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Los  Angeles  Cd-unty 
Flood  Control  District 

Report  of  J.  W.  Reagan 


Engineer   Los    Angeles    County 
Flood  Control  District 


Upon 

The  control  of  flood  waters  in 
t"his  District  by  correction  of  riv- 
ers, diversion  and  care  of  washes, 
building  of  dikes  and  dams,  pro- 
tecting public  highways,  private 
in-operty  and  Los  Angeles  and 
Long  Beach  harbors. 


''M, 


SOUTHERN  BRANCH, 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA, 

LIBRARY, 

cos  ANGEUES,  CALJF. 

Filed  with  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the 

Los  Angeles  County  Flood  Control  District 

and  Adopted  January  2,  1917 


In  Accordance  with  Section  4 
Of  Los  Angeles  County  Flood  Control  Act  n 

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1917. 


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FLOOD  REGULATION 

to  accompany  reporr 

of 

J.W.  Reacan 

Engineer  of  Los  Angeles  Counly 

Flood  Control  District 

JANDABY  2,  1917 


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Los  Angeles  County  Flood  Control  District 

REPORT  OF  ENGINEER,  J.  W.  REAGAN 

\^      "  -  Office  of  the  Engineer  of  the  Los  Angeles 

■^  County  Flood  Control  District, 

w  Room  348  Court  House 

Los  Angeles,  California. 
Hon.  Board  of  Supervisors,  January  2,   1917. 

Los   Angeles   County   Flood   Control   District, 
Los  Angeles,  California. 
Gentlemen: 

Pursuant  to  Section  4  of  the  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  California,  known  as 
the  Los  Angeles  County  Flood  Control  Act,  by  Resolution  of  your  Honorable  Body  adopted 
on  the  30tli  day  of  August,  1915,  and  amended  on  the  20tli  day  of  September,  1915,  I  was 
employed  as  Engineer  to  investigate  carefully  the  best  plan  to  control  the  flood  and  storm 
waters  of  the  Los  Angeles  County  Flood  Control  District  and  to  conserve  such  waters  for  bene- 
ficial and  useful  purposes  by  spreading,  storing,  retaining  or  causing  to  percolate  into  the  soil 
within  said  District,  or  to  save  or  conserve  in  any  manner,  any  or  all  of  such  waters,  and 
to  protect  the  harbors',  waterways,  public  highways  and  property  in  said  District  from 
damage  from  such  waters ;  and  to  obtain  such  other  information  in  regard  thereto  as  might 
be  deemed  necessary  or  useful  for  carrying  out  the  purposes  of  said  Los  Angeles  County 
Flood  Control  Act. 

Said  Resolution  of  your  Honorable  Body  also  directed  me  to  make  and  file  a  Report 
with   j'our   Honorable   Body,   which   should   show : 

1.  A  general  description  of  the  work  to  b    done. 

2.  General  plans,  profiles,  cross  sections  and  general  specifications  of  the  work  to  be 
done. 

3.  A  general  description  of  the  lands,  rights-of-way,  easements  and  property  proposed 
to  be  taken,   acquired  or  injured  in  carrying  out  said  work. 

4.  A  map  which  should  show  the  location  of  the  proposed  work  and  improvements, 
and  lands,  rights-of-way,  easements  and  property  to  be  taken,  acquired  or  injured  in  carrying 
out  said  work,  and  any  other  information  in  regard  to  the  same  that  might  be  deemed  neces- 
sary or  useful. 

5.  An  estimate  of  the  cost  of  such  Avork,  including  an  estimate  of  the  cost  of  the  lands, 
rights-of-way,  easements  and  property  proposed  to  be  taken,  acquired  or  injured  in  carry- 
ing out  said  work  and  also  of  all  incidental  expenses  likely  to  be  incurred  in  connection 
therewith,  including  legal,  clerical,  engineering,  superintendence,  inspection,  printing  and 
advertising,  and  stating  the  total  amount  of  bonds  necessary  to  be  issued  to  pay  for  the 
same. 

Pursuant  to  said  resolution  of  employment,  investigations  have  been  continuously  car- 
ried on  by  me  and  my  force  of  assistants  ever  since  the  same  was  adopted.  In  response  to 
a  special  request  made  by  your  Honorable  Body  on  the  26th  day  of  September,  1916,  I  filed  on 
the  2nd  day  of  October,  1916,  a  report  covering  a  plan  for  protecting  the  Los  Angeles  and  Long 
Beach  Harbors  in  said  district,  and  the  waterways,  public  highways  and  property  in  said 
district  lying  adjacent  to  the  said  harbors,  from  damage  from  the  flood  and  storm  waters 
of  said  district  drained  through  the  Los  Angeles  and  San  Gabriel  Rivers  and  the  Rio  Hondo, 
which  said  report  showed  with  respect  to  said  particular  matter  all  of  the  things  required 
by  the  statute  and  your  resolution  of  employment  to  be  shown.  Upon  consideration  of  such 
report  your  Honoralde  Body  did,  however,  on  the  2nd  day  of  October,  1916,  order  the  same 
referred  back  to  me  to  be  modified  so  as  to  present  a  comprehensive  plan  for  flood  control 
work  for  the  district. 


In  response  to  said  request  I  modified  and  changed  said  I'eport  in  the  particulars  re- 
quested, and  filed  the  same  as  so  modified  and  changed  on  the  20th  day  of  December,  1916. 
Upon  consideration  of  said  Report  so  filed  your  Honorable  Body  did,  however,  again  refer 
it  back  to  me  for  further  change  and  modification,  requesting  that  work  be  provided  for 
therein  for  the  control  of  the  storm  waters  of  the  Tujungas,  the  Los  Angeles  River  above 
its  junction  with  the  Arroyo  Seeo,  the  Santa  Clara  River,  and  the  Big  Rock  Creek  and  Little 
Rock  Creek,  and  authorizing  me  to  make  such  other  changes  as  I  might  deem  advisable. 

By  further  order  made  by  your  Honorable  Body  on  the  27th  day  of  December,  1916,  you 
requested  me  to  make  a  further  change  and  modification  of  said  report  with  regard  to  the  pro- 
vision for  the  protection  of  Los  Angeles  and  Long  Beach  Harbors  so  as  to  substitute  for  the  plan 
presented  in  said  report  the  plan  indicated  in  my  supplemental  communication  of  Dec.  20,  1916. 

In  accordance  with  said  last  order  of  reference  and  said  order  of  December  27th,  1916,  1 
further  modified  and  changed  the  report,  and  on  December  29th,  1916,  again  filed  it  as  so  modi- 
fied and  changed.  Upon  consideration  of  said  report  as  so  filed  however,  your  Honorable  Body, 
on  December  30th,  1916,  did  again  refer  it  back  to  me  for  further  change  and  modifica- 
tion, requesting  that  additional  protection  work  be  provided  in  the  report  for  the  control 
of  the  storm  waters  of  the  Tujungas,  and  authorizing  me  to  make  such  other  changes  as  I 
might  deem  advisable. 

In  accordance  with  said  last  order  of  reference  I  have  further  modified  and  changed  the 
report,  and  do  again  herewith  submit  it  for  your  consideration  as  a  comprehensive  plan  for  flood 
control  work  for  the  district.  The  report  has  been  prepared  and  is  filed  pursuant  to  the  pro- 
visions of  Sections  4  and  5  of  the  Los  Angeles  County  Flood  Control  Act,  the  resolution  under 
which  I  was  employed,  and  the  several  orders  made  by  your  Honorable  Body  hereinabove 
referred  to. 

While  the  report  covers  all  of  the  points  required  by  Section  4  of  the  Los  Angeles  County 
Flood  Control  Act  to  be  shown  therein,  it  has  not  seemed  advisable,  nor  been  convenient 
to  folloAv  the  order  in  which  said  points  appear  in  the  statute.  My  plan  has  been  to  present, 
first,  a  general  description  of  the  Avork  to  be  done,  accompanied  by  a  general  map  showing 
the  location  of  the  proposed  work  and  improvements,  and  lands,  rights-of-way,  easements  and 
property  to  be  taken,  acquired  or  injured  in  carrying  out  the  work,  with  other  information 
deemed  useful,  and  to  follow  that  with  a  particular  treatment  of  the  several  parts  of  the 
work,  presenting  as  to  each,  general  plans,  profiles,  cross-sections  and  general  specifications 
of  the  work  to  be  done,  a  general  description  of  the  lands,  rights-of-way,  easements  and  prop- 
erty proposed  to  be  taken,  acquired,  or  injured  in  carrying  out  the  work;  and  an  estimate 
of  the  cost  of  the  work  and  of  the  necessary  rights-of-way,  easements  and  property  proposed 
to  be  taken,  acquired  or  injured.  In  conclusion,  I  have  summarized  the  estimates  of  costs 
for  the  various  parts  of  the  work  and  have  added  thereto  estimates  of  incidental  expenses 
likely  to  be  incurred  in  connection  therewith,  and  have  given  a  statement  of  the  total  amount 
of  bonds  necessary  to  be  issued  to  pay  for  all  the  work  and  expenses. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF  WORK  TO  BE  DONE 

I  may  say  at  the  outset  that  it  has  seemed  advisable  to  follow  in  a  general  way  the 
plans  for  flood  control  which  were  outlined  by  the  Board  of  Engineers  of  Flood  Control,  in 
their  report  presented  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Los  Angeles  County  on  July  27,  1915, 
and  now  on  file  in  the  office  of  said  Board. 

The  work  to  be  done  resolves  itself  into  four  parts :  First,  the  construction  of  both  large 
and  small  dams  in  the  mountainous  areas ;  second,  the  protection  of  the  banks  of  the  smaller 
streams  together  with  spreading  and  storing  of  waters  of  these  streams  for  beneficial  use; 
third,  the  straightening  and  rectification  through  river  training  and  bank  protection  of  the 
major  streams;  and  fourth,  protection  to  the  harbors  and  shipping  interests. 

On  the  Paeoima  Wash,  about  four  miles  aliove  tlie  mouth  of  the  canyon,  there  will  be 
built  a  concrete  masonry  dam  145  feet  high.    It  will  impound  3200  acre  feet  of  water. 

At  a  point  where  La  Canada-Verdugo  Road  crosses  the  Arroyo  Seco,  locally  known  as 


— 5— 

"Devil's  Gate,"  there  is  to  be  constructed  a  concrete  masonry  dam  130  feet  high,  which 
will  impound  6600  acre  feet  of  water. 

Two  miles  above  the  mouth  of  San  Dimas  Canyon  the  San  Dimas  Dam,  a  structure  145 
feet  above  bed  rock  is  to  be  built  which  will  impound  and  conserve  for  beneficial  use  2500 
acre  feet  of  water. 

On  the  headwaters  of  tlie  San  Jose  Creek  in  the  old  cienega  just  south  of  Lordsburg, 
the  Pomona  Dams  and  Eeservoir  will  be  located.  The  impounding  dams  will  be  of  earth,  with 
a  maximum  height  of  40  feet,  a  top  width  of  16  feet,  and  a  maximum  bottom  width  of  221 
feet.     These  two  dams  will  provide  a  storage  capacity  of  2250  acre  feet. 

Check  dams  will  be  built  in  the  small  canyons  at  the  headwaters  of  nearly  all  the  creeks 
from  which  flood  waters  now  empty  onto  the  citrus  belt  between  the  East  County  line  and 
the  mouth  of  the  San  Gabriel  River  above  Azusa. 

Check  dams  will  also  be  placed  in  the  headwaters  of  the  small  canyons  which  devastate  the 
foothill  country  between  the  mouth  of  the  San  Gabriel  Canyon  and  north  of  Pasadena.  The 
headwaters  of  Wilson  Creek,  Newhall  Creek  and  Big  and  Little  Rock  Creeks  will  also  have 
their  flood  waters   controlled   by  the  plentiful  and  judicious  use  of  check  dams. 

The  small  canyons  above  Hollywood  will  have  their  menacing  floods  also  controlled  by 
small  and  numerous  check  dams. 

Work  is  also  to  be  done  on  the  Sycamore  Canyon  AVash  between  the  Verdugo  Wash 
through  Glendale  and  Tropico. 

Spreading  grounds  will  be  provided  at  the  mouth  of  Haines  Canyon  to  take  care  of  the 
runoff  from  this  area. 

The  channel  of  the  Ballona  Creek  will  be  enlarged,  straightened  and  diked  to  care  for 
the  runoff  coming  into  it. 

In  the  Gardena  Valley  provision  has  been  made  to  care  for  the  increasing  volume  of 
flood  waters  originating  southerly  of  Inglewood  and  north  of  Watson's  Crossing. 

Compton  Creek  will  be  widened,  deepened  and  straightened  from  Vermont  Avenue 
southerly. 

The  type  of  bank  protection  in  general  will  consist  of  either  a  boulder  levee  thrown 
up  by  steam  shovel,  or  a  single  row  of  fencing  or  double  row  of  fencing  filled  in  between, 
with   orchard   cuttings   or   brush   and   weighted  down  Avith  rock. 

In  handling  the  Los  Angeles  River,  the  Rio  Hondo  and  the  San  Gabriel  River,  it  is  realized 
that  the  water  has  a  combined  power  for  good  or  evil.  We  shall  build  training  works  so 
that  this  power  of  the  river,  for  good,  may  be  utilized  in  governing  and  straightening  the  pres- 
ent tortuous  channel.  These  training  works  will  consist  of  a  double  row  of  piling  about  five 
feet  apart,  on  the  stream  face  of  which  will  be  placed  wire  fencing,  and  the  space  between 
the  piling  filled  with  brush  and  rocks.  At  the  especially  dangerous  points  up  and  down  the 
streams,  bank  protection  will  be  used  in  order  to  confine  these  waters  \vithin  the  single  chan- 
nel, and  to  prevent  the  disastrous  wanderings  of  these  streams  across  the  fertile  valleys  be- 
tween the  mountains  and  the  sea.  In  general,  this  bank  protection  will  consist  of  a  double 
row  of  piling,  or  possibly  a  single  row  of  piling,  faced  with  barbed-wire  or  hog  wire,  and 
the  space  between  the  two  rows  of  piling,  or  where  the  bank  is  steep,  between  the  single  row 
of  piling  and  the  cut  bank,  filled  with  brush  and  weighted  down  with  stones.  In  all  instances 
the  growth  of  willows  and  all  trees  with  a  good,  deep,  firm  root  system  will  be  encouraged 
along  the  banks  and  behind  and  in  and  among  this  bank  protection.  On  the  detritus  cone  of 
the  San  Gabriel  River  above  El  Monte  there  will  bp  excavated  a  channel  300  or  400  feet  wide 
and  about  four  feet  deep.  The  material  from  this  excavation  will  be  placed  in  levees  on  either 
side  of  the  stream  at  distances  varying  from  600  feet  to  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  the  area  between 
the  minor  chanuel  and  the  levees  to  act  as  a  spreading  ground  for  the  waters,  that  they  may 
be  absorbed  into  underground  storage  for  beneficial  use. 

For  the  protection  of  the  Los  Angeles  and  Long  Beach  Harbors,  a  dike  will  be  built  from 


— 6— 

the  highlands  at  Dominguez  Hill  parallel  to  and  northerly  of  the  Pacific  Electric  Railway 
tracks,  effectively  causing  all  waters  of  the  Los  Angeles  and  San  Gabriel  Rivers  and  the 
Rio  Hondo  to  flow  to  the  location  of  the  present  bridge  of  the  Pacific  Electric  Railway 
Tracks  over  the  Los  Angeles  River,  and  known  locally  as  the  Cerritos  Trestle,  and  thence 
almost  due  south  through  the  low  ground  lying  to  the  east  of  Long  Beach  Harbor  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean  at  a  point  between  Parker  Avenue  and  Wabash  Avenue,  in  the  City  of  Long 
Beach  or,  generally  speaking,  between  the  Long  Beach  Harbor  and  the  residential  portion 
of  the  City  of  Long  Beach.  The  waters  in  their  course  southward  from  Cerritos  Trestle  will 
be  confined  between  levees,  and  sufficient  highway  bridges  will  be  provided  across  the 
channel. 

Before  proposing  protective  works  of  any  kind  upon  any  stream  course,  it  seemed 
advisable  that  the  first  step  was  to  secure  rights-of-way  for  official  channels.  I  have  not 
only  been  securing  this  right-of-way  for  you,  but  have  secured  it  without  a  cent  of  cost  to 
the  Los  Angeles  County  Flood  Control  District. 

At  a  meeting  held  by  the  Flood  Control  Association  in  the  Hall  of  Technology  on  Jan- 
uary 15,  1916,  it  was  tentatively  agreed  that  data  and  an  estimate  for  protective  improve- 
ments to  the  amount  of  $3,600,000  should  be  prepared  for  submission  to  the  voters  of  the 
District  for  a  bond  issue.  However,  within  the  past  few  months  many  laud  owners,  bankers, 
civic  and  commercial  organizations  have  represented  that  realty  values  and  securities  have 
been  so  depreciated  on  account  of  damage  by  flood  waters,  that  necessary  steps  should  be 
taken  to  correct  the  same  even  though  it  takes  a  larger  amount. 

With  the  text  of  this  report  I  submit  a  complete  set  of  maps,  general  plans,  profiles  and 
cross  sections,  all  of  which  are  contained  in  the  plate  book  filed  with  and  made  a  part 
of  this  report. 

The  accompanying  map  (Plate  I)  shows  the  location  of  all  of  the  work  and  improve- 
ments proposed  in  this  report,  and  lands,  rights-of-way,  easements  and  property  to  be  taken, 
acquired  or  injured  in  carrying  out  said  work,  and  other  information  deemed  useful  in 
regard  thereto.  The  general  location  of  the  channels  and  the  Avork  to  be  done  is  shown 
in  red.  The  areas  shaded  green  along  the  various  channels  represent  the  free  rights-of- 
way  for  official  channels  now  secured  for  you,  and  areas  shaded  brown  along  these  streams 
show  where  we  have  determined  upon  official  channels,  but  where  free  easements  have  not 
yet  been  secured.  I  would  state  parenthetically  that  this  omission  is  only  because  of  lack  of 
time.  The  laud  owners  have  been  very  fair  and  generous  with  us  in  the  granting  of  ease- 
ments. 

GENERAL  SPECIFICATIONS  OP  WORK  TO  BE  DONE,   WITH   GENERAL   DESCRIP- 
TION OF  LANDS,  RIGHTS-OF-WAY,  EASEMENTS    AND    PROPERTY   PRO- 
POSED TO  BE  TAKEN.  ACQUIRED    OR    INJURED    IN    CARRY- 
ING OUT    THE    WORK,    AND   ESTIMATES   OP  COST 
The    protective   works   which    I    shall   recommend  to  you  are  proposed  upon  a  base  broad 
enough  and  in  proper  position,  that  they  may    either   be   the    foundation    for   any    further 
enlargement,    or   on   the   other   hand,   be   complete  within  themselves  as  far  as  they  go. 

DEVIL'S   GATE   DAM  AND   RESERVOIR 

The  map  of  this  reservoir  is  shown  on  Plate  III.  The  profile,  cross  section  and  general 
outline  of  the  dam  are  shown  on  Plate  IV,  and  the  emptying  and  filling  curves  shown  on 
Plate  V. 

The  dam  will  be  made  of  plain  concrete  or  Cyclopean  masonry  containing  large  stones. 
The  top  of  the  dam  will  be  130  feet  above  the  solid  bed  rock.  For  stability  the  dam  will 
depend  entirely  upon  the  force  of  gravity ;  however,  for  added  strength  it  will  be  arched  up- 
stream in  plan  to  a  radius  of  400  feet. 

In  addition  to  the  duty  of  this  structure  as  a  dam  it  is  so  designed  that  it  Avill  carry 
over  its  top  the  La  Canada- Verdugo   Boulevard.    The  top  of  the  dam  is  of  sufficient  width 


— 7— 

to  provide  for  a  20-foot  roadway,  with  sidewalks   on   either  side.     This  roadway   is  strong 
enough  to  carry  a  street  railway  should  the  necessity  arise. 

The  storage  capacity  of  the  reservoir  created  by  this  structure  will  be  about  6600  acre 
feet.  The  principle  of  the  structure  is  for  joint  conservation  and  flood  control.  Its  dis- 
charging apertures  will  be  controlled  by  hydraulically  operated  gates  which  are  large 
enough  to  release  7000  cubic  feet  of  water  per  second.  This  volume  is  considered  the  max- 
imum safe  carrying  capacity  of  the  natural  channel  of  the  Arroyo  Seco  below  the  dam. 

The  surplus  of  any  storm  greater  than  7000  second  feet  will  be  retained  in  the  reser- 
voir; the  capacity  of  the  reservoir,  when  worked  upon  this  principle  is  large  enough  to 
reduce  to  7000  second  feet  the  flood  of  a  storm  50%  greater  than  the  storm  of  February, 
1914.  The  dam  and  reservoir  not  only  give  flood  protection  to  the  City  of  Los  Angeles, 
and  a  material  reduction  to  the  flow  of  the  Los  Angeles  Kiver  in  flood  times,  but  conserve 
the  stored  flood  waters  of  the  Arroyo  Seco  for  the  beneficial  use  of  the  City  of  Pasadena 
and  other  cities  of  the  southeast. 

The  following  is  a  general  description  of  the  land,  rights-of-way,  easements  and  prop- 
erty proposed  to  be  taken,  acquired  or  injured  in  the  carrying  out  of  this  part  of  the  work. 
A  dam  will  be  built  across  the  Arroyo  Seco  approximately  200  feet  below  where  the  La 
Canada- Verdugo  Road  crosses  the  Arroyo  Seco.  The  exact  location  of  this  structure  cannot 
be  determined  until  bed  rock  has  been  located  by  core  drills.  The  top  of  the  dam  will  be 
built  to  elevation  1069  feet  above  mean  sea  level,  and  the  reservoir  site  will  cover  all  that 
part  of  the  Arroyo  Seco  Valley  or  Canyon,  lying  above  the  dam  and  within  and  below  said 
1069  foot  contour,  all  as  more  particularly  shown  on  Plate  III. 

The  cost  of  these  completed  works  is  estimated  at  $290,000.  This  amount  is  for  con- 
struction purposes  alone,  as  free  easements  of  the  entire  reservoir  site  from  liotli  the  City 
of  Pasadena  and  other  owners  are  already  in  your  possession. 

The   Devil's   Gate   Dam   and   Reservoir  have  been  approved  as  follows: 

The  general  project  and  plan  of  the  proposed  dam  at  Devil's  Gate  were  heartily 
endorsed  November  29,  1916,  by  the  Pasadena  City  Commission  of  the  City  of 
Pasadena.  Per  A.  L.  HAMILTON,  Chairman. 

The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Pasadena  Board  of  Trade  on  November  4,  1916, 
approved  the  plan  of  the  proposed  Devil's  Gate  Dam  and  offer  their  hearty  co-opera- 
tion in  the  work.  J.  H.  PEAR:\IAN,  Secretary. 

HUTCHIN'S   DAM   IN   PACOIMA    CANYON 
This  dam  will  be  built  at  a  point  about  four   miles   above   the   mouth   of  the   Pacoima 
Canyon,   for  both   flood   control   and  conservation,  but  primarily  for  the  protection  of  that 
part  of  the  San  Fernando  Valley  and  the  City   of  Los   Angeles   about   the   Town   of  Van 
Nuys. 

Its  height  will  be  145  feet  and  it  will  be  478  feet  long  on  top.  The  dam  will  be  made 
of  plain  concrete  or  of  Cyclopean  Masonry  containing  large  stones.  In  type  it  will  be  of 
gravity  section  arched  up-stream  to  a  radius  of  400  feet. 

The  map,  profile  and  cross  section  are  shown  on  Plate  VI  and  the  filling  and  dis- 
charging curves  on  Plate  VII.  The  storage  capacity  of  the  reservoir  is  3200  acre  feet,  which 
should  reduce  a  flood  as  great  as  that  of  1914,  when  the  peak  was  estimated  at  5400  sec- 
ond feet,  to  a  flow  of  2600  second  feet,  or  a  reduction  of  52%.  This  will  very  materially 
lessen  the  menace  and  injury  to  property  in  the  vicinity  of  Van  Nuys. 

The  following  is  a  general  description  of  the  land,  rights-of-way,  easements  and  prop- 
erty proposed  to  be  taken,  acquired  or  injured  in  carrying  out  this  part  of  the  work. 

This  dam  will  be  built  as  above  stated.  The  top  of  the  dam  will  be  at  an  elevation  of 
2265  feet  above  mean  sea  level  .  The  reservoir  site  will  include  all  that  part  of  the  Pacoima 
Canyon,  lying  above  the  dam  and  below  the  2265-foot  contour,  all  as  more  particulnrly  shown 
upon  Plate  VI. 

The  cost  of  the  works  complete  is  $359,460 


— 8— 

The  Hutehin's  Dam  and  Reservoir  project  have  been  approved  by  the  following  city 
organizations  of  the  San  Fernando  Valley  and  the  City  of  Los  Angeles: 

"The  San  Fernando  Chamber  of  Commerce,  on  December  7,  1916.  passed  a  unanimous 
resolution  endorsing  and  heartily  approving  the  plan  of  the  proposed  Hutehin's  Dam  in  Pa- 
eoima   Canyon,   and  the   general   plan   for   flood  control  purposes  in  Los  Angeles  County." 

FRED  W.   PRINCE,   President. 
H.  C.  CALDWELL,  Secretary. 

Plans  for  the  Hutehin's  Dam  in  Pacoima  Canyon  were  endorsed  by  Resolution  by  the 
Van  Nuys   Chamber  of  Commerce,   Van  Nuys,  California,  November  16,  1916. 

FRANK  M.  KEEFER,  Secretary. 

The  San  Fernando  Board  of  Trade  by  Resolution  on  December  6,  1916,  did  heartily  en- 
dorse and  approve  the  general  plan  of  the  proposed  Hutehin's  Dam  at  Pacoima  Canyon. 

JOHN  T.  WILSON,  President. 
H.  C.  HUBBARD,  Secretary. 

The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  San  i'ernando  Fruit  Growers'  Association  on  Novem- 
ber 28,  1916,  passed  a  Resolution  unanimously  endorsing  the  plan  of  a  properly  constructed 
concrete  dam  in  Pacoima  Canyon  for  the  purpose  of  impounding  and  storing  storm  waters. 

VOLNEY  H.  CRAIG,  Secretary. 

SAN  DIMAS  CANYON  DAM  AND  RESERVOIR 

This  structure  is  located  in  the  San  Dimas  Canyon  about  two  miles  above  its  mouth, 
in  Angeles  National  Forest,  upon  the  East  1/2  of  Sec.  24,  T.  1  N.,  R.  9  W.,  S.  B.  B.  &  M.,  and 
upon  land  o^vned  by  the  San  Dimas  Water  Company,  from  which  Company  you  have  now 
a  free  easement,  for  construction  of  a  dam  and  reservoir.  The  object  to  be  accomplished 
by  this  structure  will  be  flood  protection  for  the  intensely  cultivated  stretch  of  the  San 
Dimas  Wash  above  the  City  of  Covina  and  the  conservation  and  underground  storage  of 
flood  waters. 

Plate  VIII  shows  the  cross  section  and  profile  of  the  dam,  and  map  of  the  reservoir 
site.  Plate  IX  shows  emptying  and  filling  curves.  The  dam  is  to  be  constructed  of  plain 
concrete  or  Cyclopean  masonry  containing  large  stones  up  to  IV2  cubic  yards.  The  dam 
will  be  145  feet  in  height  above  bed  rock  and  will  have  a  crest  length  of  265  feet.  In  section,  the 
dam  will  be  of  gravity  type  arched  up-stream  to  a  radius  of  400  feet. 

The  impounding  capacity  is  shown  upon  Plate  IX,  and  is  2500  acre  feet.  This  reservoir, 
like  the  Devil's  Gate  Reservoir,  is  intended  as  a  retention  reservoir,  i.  e.,  for  both  flood  con- 
trol and  conservation.  It  will  reduce  a  flood  of  2800  second  feet  such  as  occurred  in  1914 
down  to  1500  second  feet,  and  these  works  like  those  of  Devil's  Gate  will  be  supplied  with 
discharging  appliances  large  enough,  that  should  the  reservoir  be  full,  or  nearly  so,  when  an 
on-coming  storm  is  apparent,  its  contents  may  be  released  before  the  new  storm  reaches  the 
dam.  Like  Devil's  Gate,  it  is  also  provided  with  ample  spill-way  gates.  The  cost  of  this 
structure  complete,   including   discharge  pipes  and  cushion  dams,  will  be  $278,000. 

Lands,  easements  and  rights-of-way  necessary  to  be  taken  or  acquired  for  these  works 
may  be  generally  described  as  follows : 

The  land  necessary  for  the  dam  as  located  above,  together  with  the  area  of  the  San 
Dimas  Canyon  above  the  dam,  lying  within  and  below  the  1470-foot  contour,  mean  sea  level 
datum;  all  as  shown  on  Plate  VIII. 

The  San  Dimas  Dam  and  Reservoir  project  have  been  approved  by  the  following  Civic 
Organizations  of  the  San  Gabriel  Valley: 

Plans  of  San  Dimas  Canyon  Dam  unanimously  approved  by  the  Covina  Chamber  of 
Commerce,   Covina,    California,   November   17,  1916. 

H.  A.  MILLER,  President. 
JEROME  REYNOLDS,  Secretary. 


— 9— 

Maps  and  plans  for  the  control  of  the  storm  waters  of  the  San  Dimas  Canyon  have  been 
endorsed  at  a  special  called  meeting  by  the  San  Dimas  Commercial  Club  of  San  Dimas,  No- 
vember 24,  1916  .  0.  W.  HOKE,  President. 

C.  C.  CORWIN,  Secretary. 

By  Resolution  at  a  regular  meeting,  November  21,  1916,  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
City  of  Covina,   do  resolve   as  follows: 

That  we  hereby  heartily  endorse  and  recommend  the  flood  control  plans  for  Walnut 
Wash  and  for  San  Dimas  Dam.  J.  N.  WILSON, 

President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
City  of  Covina. 

POMONA   DAM   AND   RESERVOIR 
Live  Oak,  Thompson,  Williams  and  San  Antonio  Creeks 

The  flood  waters  of  Williams  Creek  which  are  from  a  mountainous  drainage  of  less  than 
400  acres,  are  a  source  of  great  danger  and  injury  and  are  now  flooding  the  new  orchards 
on  the  San  Antonio  cone,  thence  passing  down  into  the  City  of  Claremont,  either  directly 
through  the  City  of  Claremont,  or  westward  by  the  Foothill  Boulevard  to  San  Antonio  Street 
and  thence  down  San  Antonio  Street  to  the  heart  of  the  City  of  Pomona. 

It  has  been  desired  by  the  property  owners  who  are  subject  to  this  menace  and  injury 
that  the  storm  waters  of  Williams  Creek  might  be  diverted  either  eastward  to  San  Antonio 
Wash  or  westward  to  Thompson  Creek. 

As  the  San  Antonio  Wash  is  not  within  this  district  it  would  be  unwise  to  attempt  the 
diversion  of  Williams  Creek  into  it.  Its  diversion  westward  into  Thompson  Creek  may  be 
safely  undertaken,  provided  a  final  disposition  of  the  water  is  provided  for. 

The  flood  waters  from  Thompson  Creek  are  the  result  of  a  watershed  of  nearly  3000  acres, 
and  furnish  a  flood  peak  of  considerable  volume,  which  now  passes  do^vn  across  the  Foot- 
hill Boulevard  near  its  intersection  with  Williams  Avenue  on  to  the  south,  to  and  across  the 
Kuns  Tract,  thence  down  Fulton  Street  where  it  divides  part  of  it  going  southwesterly  to  the 
headwaters  of  San  Jose  Creek,  and  part  down  the  County  Boulevard  to  Garey  Avenue, 
thence  southerly  to  the  heart  of  Pomona  like  the  flood-waters  of  AVilliams  Creek  coming  down 
San  Antonio  Avenue. 

Live  Oak  Creek  with  a  mountainous  drainage  area  of  approximately  1600  acres  has  a 
flood  peak  when  its  waters  reach  the  Foothill  Boulevard  of  about  700  cubic  feet  per  second. 
From  this  point  it  begins  to  drop  its  detritus  upon  the  orchard  lands  of  the  Evergreen  Ranch 
and  Tract  No.  380. 

Plate  X  shows  the  map,  cross  section  and  profiles  of  the  Pomona  Dam  and  Reservoir,  lo- 
cated upon  the  old  cienega  partially  within  the  city  limits  of  Pomona  on  the  headwaters  of 
San  Jose  Creek  south  of  Lordsburg.  By  the  construction  of  this  reservoir  a  place  is  provided 
for  the  final  disposition  of  the  waters  of  these  three  creeks. 

Williams  Creek  will  be  diverted  into  Thompson  Creek  near  where  they  both  emerge  from 
the  mountains  as  shown  on  Plate  XI  and  their  combined  waters  carried  down  Thompson 
Creek  channel  to  the  Foothill  Boulevard  where  these  combined  waters  will  be  joined  with 
the  waters  from  Live  Oak  Creek,  which  are  to  be  diverted  down  that  portion  of  Williams 
Street  which  is  north  of  the  Foothill  Boulevard.  From  the  Foothill  Boulevard  southward  the 
combined  flood  waters  of  the  three  streams,  Williams  Creek,  Thompson  Creek  and  Live  Oak 
Creek  will  be  conveyed  down  in  a  cement  conduit  or  roadway  to  the  Pomona  reservoir,  all 
as  shown  on  Plate  XI  and  XII. 

Where  Williams  Creek  crosses  the  center  line  of  Section  27,  Township  1,  North,  Range  8 
West,  there  will  be  constructed  a  low  earth  dam  for  diverting  the  waters  of  Williams  Creek 
to  the  Southwest,  through  a  channel  which  is  to  be  dug.  This  channel  will  be  approximately 
twenty  feet  wide  and  two  feet  deep. 


—10— 

The  material  excavated  from  this  channel  will  l)e  thrown  up  on  the  lower  side,  forming  a 
small  levee. 

The  profile  and  cross  section  of  Williams  Creek  will  be  found  on  Plate  XII.  The  com- 
bined waters  of  Thompson  and  Williams  Creeks  will  flow  in  the  present  natural  channel  of 
Thompson  Creek  as  far  south  as  Base  Line  Way,  no  work  being  done  on  the  channel  from  Base 
Line  "Way  to  the  Foothill  Boulevard.  The  waters  will  continue  to  flow  in  the  natural  chan- 
nel. The  bank  of  the  stream  will  be  protected  by  a  double  row  of  wire  fencing  filled  with 
brush.  The  plan  of  this  creek  is  shown  on  Plate  No.  XI,  the  profile  and  cross  section  on 
Plate  No.  XII. 

The  diversion  of  Live  Oak  Wash  southerly  along  Williams  Avenue  will  be  accomplished 
by  placing  a  dike  across  the  present  Live  Oak  Wash,  near  the  intersection  of  Williams  Avenue 
and  Bowdoin  Street  the  waters  from  this  diversion  being  carried  southerly  along  Williams 
Avenue  in  a  concrete  channel.  The  profile  and  cross  section  of  this  diversion  is  shown  upon  Plate 
XII,  the  location  is  shown  upon  Plate  XL  The  profile  and  cross  section  of  the  conduit  which 
is  to  convey  the  comliined  waters  of  the  three  streams,  Williams,  Thompson  and  Live  Oak 
Creeks,  from  the  Foothill  Boulevard  to  the  Pomona  Reservoir  is  shown  on  Plate  XII.  The 
rights  of  way  necessary  for  all  of  this  work  are  shown  lietween  the  red  lines  on  Plate  XI. 

The  Pomona  reservoir  Avill  provide  storage  for  2320  acre  feet  of  water  M^hen  the  water 
surface  is  at  the  1000  foot  contour.  The  area  of  the  watershed  of  the  three  streams  draining 
into  this  reservoir  is  approximately  4800  acres  and  inasmuch  as  it  has  a  fairly  good  brush 
cover,  it  is  estimated  that  the  maximum  flood  peak  from  tliis  territory  will  not  exceed  1500  sec- 
ond feet.  It  is  also  estimated  that  the  amount  of  water  that  would  be  delivered  to  the  reser- 
voir during  a  storm  similar  to  that  of  1914  or  1916,  would  not  exceed  1500  acre  feet,  which 
is  75%  of  the  storage   capacity  up  to  the  1000  foot  contour. 

This  still  permits  of  6  feet  free  board.  In  case  of  an  emergency  the  reservoir  may  be  safe- 
ly filled  three  feet  more,  allowing  storage  of  nearly  3000  acre  feet,  or  furnishing  provision  for 
flood  waters  of  a  storm  twice  as  great  as  that  of  1916.  Filling  to  this  height  may  be  allowed 
only  at  will  as  tlie  discharge  valves  provide  for  500  cubic  feet  per  second  to  San  Jose  Creek, 
and  500  cubic  feet  per  second  to  Walnut  Creek. 

This  reservoir  plan  will  not  only  entirely  eliminate  the  l)aneful  effect  of  the  flood  waters 
from  the  canyons  as  discussed  by  the  Citizens'  Committee  of  Pomona  in  their  report  of  May 
15,  1916,  but  also  save  them  the  necessity  of  a  large  part  of  the  cost  of  the  street  paving  and 
high  curbing  which  they  advised  in  this  report,  but  it  should  be  plain  from  the  contour  map 
that  not  only  will  it  remove  the  menace  of  the  Williams  and  Thompson  Creek  flood  waters  from 
these  cities,  but  that  the  flood  waters  of  all  the  territory  between  the  Base  Line  Road  and  Cuca- 
monga  Street  in  Pomona  and  Claremont  may  be  carried  by  those  locallj^  interested,  directly 
westward  and  delivered  into  this  reservoir,  instead  of  going  southward  through  the  city  of 
Claremont.  This  possibility  of  the  proposed  plan  is  one  of  almost  inestimable  value  to  these 
two  cities.  Again,  it  is  also  of  very  great  value  to  the  city  of  Lordsburg  to  have  the  flood 
waters  of  Live  Oak  Creek  entirely  removed  from  their  city  to  the  reservoir. 

Tlie  above  outlined  benefits  arising  from  this  plan  of  flood  control  are  undoubtedly 
enough,  but  the  selection  of  such  a  reservoir  site  in  this  locality  has  some  other  peculiarly 
valuable  characteristics.  The  contour  map  shows  that  it  would  be  possible  to  divert  a  portion 
of  the  San  Antonio  Canyon  flood  waters  to  it  and  these  M-aters  might  again  be  passed  from 
the  Pomona  reservoir  tlirough  the  divide  upon  the  west  with  a  A'ery  slight  cutting  into  the 
Pudding  Stone  or  Jlount  reservoir  site,  located  b_y  the  Board  of  Engineers  Flood  Control, 
at  the  head  waters  of  Walnut  Creek  Wash,  in  their  report  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Los 
Angeles  County,  filed  July  27th,  1915.  Another  possibility  of  this  reservoir  is  that  any  sur- 
plus waters  of  San  Dimas  Canyon  which  can  be  conveyed  to  the  Pudding  Stone  reservoir  can 
also  be  conveyed  to  this  reservoir.  The  aggregate  assessed  values  of  the  cities  of  Pomona, 
Claremont  and  Lordsburg  is  approximately  $9,000,000,  showing  a  combined  property  value  of 
nearly    .'t;30,000,000,    and   I    h  ave    no    hesitancy  in  saying  that  this  reservoir,   if  built  and 


—11— 

properly  controlled  will  remove  the  menace  of  the  mountain  flood  waters  from  all  of  this 
property. 

The  dam  is  shown  upon  Plate  X.  It  is  a  massive  earth  dam  3300  feet  long  with  a  maxi- 
mum height  of  but  41  feet,  16  feet  wide  on  top  and  46  feet  wide  at  the  surface  when  the 
reservoir  is  full  to  the  1000  foot  contour,  and  a  maximum  base  width  of  221  feet.  When  full 
it  represents  a  surface  area  of  210  acres. 

It  is  intended  to  construct  a  sunken  concrete  roadway  from  the  Foothill  Boulevard  to 
the  North  City  limits  of  Pomona  to  carry  the  combined  flood  waters  of  Thompson's,  Wil- 
liams' and  Live  Oak  Creeks.  At  the  North  City  limits  of  Pomona  these  flood  waters  will  be 
received  by  a  concrete  conduit  and  conducted  to  the  Pomona  reservoir.  Both  the  roadway 
and  conduit  are  designed  to  carry  from  2500  second  feet  to  2700  second  feet,  or  double  the 
volume  of  the  1916  flood. 

Profile  and  cross  section  of  protection  dikes  or  walls  to  be  built  upon  the  west  side  of 
San  Antonio  Wash  are  shown  on  Plate  XXII.  The  location  of  these  dikes  are  shown  on  Plate 
XI.  These  dikes  will  be  made  of  large  boulders  cemented  together  and  enclosed  in  fence 
wire. 

On  the  350  acres  at  the  head-waters  of  Williams  Creek,  it  is  intended  to  spend  $1100  in 
the  construction  of  about  35  check  dams.  On  the  2880  acres,  at  the  head-waters  of  Thomp- 
son's Creek  $8900  is  to  be  spent  in  constructing  about  270  check  dams.  On  the  head-waters 
of  Live  Oak  Creek,  consisting  of  1650  acres,  $5000  will  be  required  to  construct  about  160 
check  dams. 

The  following  is  a  general  description  of  the  land,  rights  of  way,  easements  and  property 
necessary  to  be  taken,  acquired  or  injured  in  carrying  out  the  work  on  these  four  creeks,  or 
washes,  and  the  proposed  Pomona  Dam : 

Williams  Creek :  A  50-foot  strip  of  land  extending  from  the  intersection  of  Williams 
Creek,  with  the  southerly  boundary  of  the  northeast  1/4  of  Section  27,  Township  1  North, 
Range  8  West,  thence  southwesterly  to  a  point  in  Thompson  Creek  about  700  feet  north 
of  the  south  line  of  said  Section  27,  as  particularly  shown  on  Plate  XI. 

Thompson  Creek :  The  present  wash  channel  of  Thompson  Creek  from  its  beginning 
down  to  Base  Line  Road. 

A  strip  of  land  extending  from  the  intersection  of  the  present  wash  channel  with  Base 
Line  Road,  southwesterly  following  the  present  course  of  the  westerly  part  of  Thompson 
Creek  to  the  intersection  of  Foothill  Boulevard  and  Williams  Avenue.  Said  strip  of  land  vary- 
ing from  100  feet  to  200  feet  in  width. 

A  strip  of  land  extending  from  the  intersection  of  Foothill  Boulevard  and  Williams 
Street,  southwesterly  to  a  point  in  the  northerly  boundary  of  the  City  of  Pomona  about  400 
feet  east  of  the  easterly  line  of  the  City  of  Lordsburg.  Said  strip  being  60  feet  wide  and 
being  occupied  by  a  highway  known  as  Williams  Avenue  from  Foothill  Boulevard  to  Grove 
Street,  and  below  Grove  Street  partly  by  a  narrow  channel  with  low  cement  walls. 

A  strip  of  land  about  50  feet  in  width  extending  from  the  intersection  of  Williams 
Avenue  with  the  northerly  boundary  line  of  the  City  of  Pomona,  southwesterly,  to  the  inter- 
section of  the  westerly  boundary  line  of  the  City  of  Pomona  with  the  Santa  Fe  Railroad, 
thence  on  a  curve  to  the  right,  with  a  radius  of  2084  feet,  from  the  Pacific  Electric  Rail- 
way to  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  track  near  the  1005  foot  contour,  all  as  shown  on  Plate 
XL 

Live  Oak  Creek:  A  strip  of  land  extending  from  the  intersection  of  Bowdoin  Street 
and  Williams  Avenue  due  south  to  Foothill  Boulevard,  60  feet  wide  now  occupied  by  the 
public  highway  known  as  Williams  Avenue,  as  particularly  shown  on  Plate  XI. 

Pomona  Dam  and  Reservoir:     A  parcel  of  land  bounded  as  follows: 

Beginning  at  a  point  where  the  1005-foot  contour  intersects  the  westerly  boundary  line  of 
the  City  of  Pomona  near  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  track ;  thence  in  a  general  westerly 
direction  following  said  contour  to  a  point  300  feet  southerly  of  the  southerly  corner  of  the 


—12— 

lands  common  to  Edwin  T.  Keiser  and  John  S.  Long;  thence  in  a  general  southwesterly  di- 
rection across  the  valley  to  the  1005-foot  contour,  being  about  600  feet  southeasterly  from 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  land  of  John  T.  Lawrence,  thence  in  a  general  easterly  direction 
to  a  point  400  feet  easterly  of  the  west  boundary  line  of  the  City  of  Pomona;  thence  in  a 
general  northeasterly  direction  a  distance  of  about  600  feet  to  an  isolated  hill  in  the  lands  of 
Theresa  P  .de  Vejar;  thence  in  a  general  northeasterly  direction  to  the  right  of  way  of  the 
Southern  Pacific  Railroad;  thence  along  the  right  of  way  of  said  railroad,  a  distance  of  ap- 
proximately 700  feet  to  the  1005-foot  contour;  thence  in  a  general  westerly  direction  along 
said  1005-foot  contour  to  the  place  of  beginning ;  all  as  shown  on  Plates  X  and  XL 

San  Antonio  Creek:  A  strip  of  land  as  shown  on  Plate  XI,  suificient  in  width  for  a 
location  for  the  protective  dikes  above  referred  to. 

Said  strip  being  all  located  upon,  or  near  to  the  present  westerly  boundary  of  the  San 
Antonio  Creek  channel,  and  near  the  boundary  line  between  Los  Angeles  and  San  Bernar- 
dino Counties. 

The  total  amount  necessary  for  all  the  foregoing  works  in  the  Pomona  Reservoir,  Wil- 
liams Creek,  Thompson  Creek,  Live  Oak  Creek  and  the  San  Antonio  Creek  is  $272,400.00,  of 
which  amount  $69,455  is  for  right  of  way. 

The  Pomona  Reservoir  project  has  been  approved  as  follows : 

Maps  and  plans  shoM'  they  were  approved  by  resolution  by  the  City  Council  of  Pomona, 
December  12,  1916. 

T.  R.  TROTTER,  City  Clerk. 

]\Iap  and  plans  were  approved  by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  the  City  of  Pomona,  De- 
cember 11,  1916. 

W.  H.  SCHUREMAN,  Secretary. 

Maps  and  plans  were  approved  by  the  City  Council  of  Claremont,  December  13,  1916. 

FRED  A.  BACON, 
FOREST  WENECKE, 
EDWIN  F.  GOPF. 
JAMES  ROBINSON, 
T.  A.  HICKCOX. 
Maps  and  plans  were  approved  by  the  City  Council  of  Lordsburg  on  December  12,  1916. 

C.  C.  HUFF,  President, 
T.  J.  STEVES,  Clerk  pro  tern. 

CHECK   DAMS   AND   IMPOUNDING   RESERVOIRS 

The  term  "Check  Dams"  has  been  applied  to  any  artificial  obstruction  of  stone  or  logs, 
or  any  combination  of  stone,  logs  and  brush  wliich  obstructs  a  stream  bed  completely  from 
one  side  to  the  other.  In  this  way  the  plane  of  the  water  is  made  to  rise  6  feet  to  8  feet 
above  the  stream  bed  at  the  dam. 

The  basic  idea  of  the  check  dam  is  the  flattening  at  will  of  the  grade  of  a  channel  which 
in  its  natural  state  is  so  steep  as  to  cause  a  rapid  and  destructive  storm  runoif. 

Inasmuch  as  large  numbers  of  check  dams  are  needed  per  channel  they  must  be  con- 
structed in  such  a  manner  and  of  such  material  as  will  reduce  their  unit  cost  to  a  minimum. 
For  this  reason  they  are  usually  made  of  boulders  and  loose  rock  found  within  a  short  radius 
of  the  dam. 

The  heights  of  check  dams  vary  from  4  feet  to  8  feet,  depending  upon  the  conditions  of 
side  rock  and  bed  rock,  and  upon  the  grade  of  the  canyon. 

There  is  no  cement  used  in  the  construction,  but  the  boulders  and  flat  stones  are  rough- 
ly fitted  and  "shingled"  one  on  top  of  another.  The  courses  are  pitched  backward  and 
downward  and  being  somewhat  locked  together,  the  whole  forming  a  stable  dam.  At  its  base 
the  dam  is  approximately  as  thick  as  it  is  high.    The  sides  of  the  dam.  should  be  built  some- 


—13— 

what  higher  than  the  central  part,  so  as  to  direct  the  overfall  away  from  the  sides  or  banks. 

The  channels  where  they  can  be  used  to  the  best  advantage  are  those  which  have  a  more 

or  less  V  shaped  section  or  a  bottom  width  of  not  more  than  15  feet  with  side  slopes  of  1:1. 

This  will  locate  them  in  a  zone  constituting  approximately  the  upper  2/3  of  a  watershed. 

This  is  also  where  the  grades  are  steepest  and  the  precipitation  is  the  heaviest. 

These  check  dams  can  best  be  located  as  they  are  being  built,  for  the  location  depends 
largely  upon  the  availability  of  material,  and  in  estimating  with  the  eye  the  amount  of  ma- 
terial in  a  stretch  of  300  feet  or  400  feet  of  channel,  it  is  impossible  to  say  whether  it  would 
be  sufficient  for  4  or  5  or  6  check  dams.  Generally  speaking  the  dams  will  be  located  at 
narrow  places  Avhcre  there  is  something  of  a  basin  above  them,  and  at  fairly  uniform  dis- 
tances apart. 

Check  dams  similar  to  those  recommended  by  the  majority  report  of  the  Board  of 
Engineers  Flood  Control,  and  as  hereinabove  described  will  be  built  in  the  mountainous  areas 
of  the  district.  The  location  of  the  canyons  in  the  following  list  will  be  found  upon  Plate  I. 
The  list  below  shows  the  names  of  the  canyons  in  which  work  is  to  be  done,  the  acreage  )n  the 
mountainous  watershed  and  the  amount  of  money  to  be  spent  hi  each  canyon. 

Name  of  Canyon  Acreage  Cost 

Laurel  1212  $2,420 

Nichols 619  1,857 

Brush   (Hollywood) 712  1,425 

(Small  canyon  west  of  Brush  Canyon) 420  840 

Eaton 4260  8,500 

Rubio  910  1.815 

Los  Flores 300  600 

(Small  canyon  bet.  Eaton  and  Rubio) 314  628 

Sawpit  4160  21,300 

Hook   433  866 

Small  canyon  east  of  Hook  Canyon 137  290 

San  Dimas 1600  3,200 

Little  Dalton  2164  4,325 

Small  canyon  above  Duarte  892  1,785 

Bailey ' - 392  784     . 

Small  canyons  above  Sierra  Madre 1685  ^,  3,365 

Wilson  Creek 1150         '  6,000 


$60,000 

In  addition  to  the  above  amount  of  $60,000  appearing  under  the  item  of  checkdams, 
other  items  appear  under  various  subheads,  making  a  total  to  be  expended  in  checkdam  con- 
struction of  $103,000.  Impounding  reservoirs  aggregating  $1,045,910,  are  provided  for  at 
Devil's  Gate,  Pacoima  Canyon,  San  Dimas  Canyon  and  Pomona,  making  a  grand  total  of 
$1,148,910  for   the   construction   of  checkdams  and  impounding  reservoirs. 

BALLONA  CREEK 

The  plan  for  the  flood  waters  of  Ballona  Creek  is  shown  upon  Plate  XIII.  The  lands 
required  for  rights  of  way  are  bordered  by  red.  That  portion  of  which  the  County  has  already 
received  free  easements  is  shovm  between  the  dotted  red  lines,  and  the  portion  of 
which  we  have  not  received  free  easements  is  enclosed  within  the  heavy  red  lines.  But 
a  very  small  area  now  remains  over  which  we  have  not  secured  free  easements,  and  this  area 
is  in  localities  where  improvement  to  the  stream  is  not  altogether  necessary. 

Plate  XIII  also  shows  profile,  cross  section  and  carrying  capacity  of  the  channel.  The 
work  extends  from  the  western  limits  of  the  City  of  Los  Angeles  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  out- 
side the  tide  gates  of  Playa  del  Rey,  a  distance  of  about  eight  miles. 


—14— 

The  side  levees  are  to  be  built  of  earth,  and  from  the  material  excavated  from  the  chan- 
nel. The  plan  and  estimate  also  includes  the  removal  of  the  large  stones  lying  in  the  ocean  en- 
trance near  Playa  Del  Eey,  connecting  the  lagoon  with  the  ocean,  and  making  the  necessary  ad- 
justments with  local  property  owners  for  changing  the  position  and  insuring  the  proper  opera- 
tion of  the  tide  gates. 

The  land,  rights  of  way  and  easements  necessary  to  be  taken  or  acquired  for  this  work 
may  be  generally  described  as  follows : 

A  strip  of  land  50  feet  in  width  extending  from  a  point  on  the  right  of  way  of  the  Pacific 
Electric  Railway  Venice  short  line  division,  about  250  feet  east  of  the  point  of  intersection 
of  said  railway  right  of  way  with  the  southwesterly  boundary  line  of  the  lands  of  the 
heirs  of  Louis  Sentous,  Sr.,  thence  southerly  to  a  point  in  said  last  named  line  about  400  feet, 
thence  southeasterly  along  said  line  to  Washington  Boulevard. 

A  strip  of  land  about  50  feet  in  width  extending  from  a  point  in  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween the  lands  of  the  heirs  of  Louis  Sentous,  Sr.,  and  the  Southwestern  Packing  Company, 
about  400  feet  northeast  along  said  line  from  Washington  Boulevard;  thence  southwesterly 
to  the  junction  of  Washington  Boulevard  and  the  strip  above  described. 

A  strip  of  land  100  feet  in  width  extending  southerly  from  the  junction  of  the  two  strips 
last  above  described,  crossing  Washington  Boulevard  and  following  the  general  meandering  of 
the  channel  to  its  junction  with  the  main  channel  of  Ballona  Creek,  a  distance  of  about  900  feet. 

A  strip  of  land  100  feet  wide  commencing  at  a  point  in  the  present  Ballona  Creek  Wash 
about  700  feet  east  of  Moynier  Lane  and  following  the  general  meanderings  of  said  channel 
to  a  point  therein  about  400  feet  east  of  the  public  highway  known  as  First  Street,  Palms, 
thence  gradually  increasing  to  a  width  of  200  feet  at  said  street.  A  strip  of  land  200  feet 
in  width  extending  from  said  First  Street,  Palms,  following  the  general  meanderings  of  said 
Ballona  Creek  channel  to  the  boundary  line  between  the  lands  of  S.  M.  Bernard  Company 
and  William  T.  McLaughlin. 

A  strip  of  land  250  feet  wide  extending  from  the  end  of  the  last  described  strip  in  a  general 
westerly  direction  to  the  concrete  tide  gate  near  the  boundary  line  of  the  City  of  Venice,  thence 
on  a  curve  to  the  left,  following  the  general  line  of  the  Lagoon  at  Playa  del  Rey,  a  distance  of 
approximately  2000  feet  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.    As  more  particularly  shown  upon  Plate  XIIL 

The  total  cost  for  the  correction  of  Ballona  Creek  is  $80,875. 

The  Ballona  Creek  project  has  been  approved  as  follows: 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  City  of  Venice,  assembled  this  15th  day  of  December,  1916, 
at  11  o'clock,  A.  M.,  do  endorse  the  plan  recommended  by  the  County  Engineer,  J.  W.  Reagan, 
for  the  care  of  the  ilood  waters,  in  Ballona  Creek  and  Valley. 

C.  Y.  BURNS,  City  Clerk, 
E.  A.  GERETY,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

Resolved,  that  the  general  plan  of  the  Los  Angeles  County  Flood  Control  Board  to  take 
care  of  the  flood  water  of  Ballona  Creek  as  presented  to  the  Venice  Chamber  of  Commerce,  on 
December  9th,  Avith  a  complete  delivery  of  the  flood  water  into  the  ocean  provided  for,  is  ac- 
cepted and  approved.  ALTA  D.  MARSHALL,  Secretary. 

Culver  City,  December  14,  1916. 
Plans  for  control  of  the  floods  of  the  Ballona    were    approved    by    the    Business    Men's 
League  of  Culver  City  and  the  Culver  Investment  Company.  HARRY  H.  CULVER. 

GARDENA  VALLEY  AND  NIGGER  SLOUGH 

The  storm  water  problem  of  this  Valley  ij  becoming  one  of  serious  moment.  During  the 
past  year  three  important  County  Boulevards  were  rendered  impassable  over  periods  varying 
from  a  few  weeks  to  a  few  months — referring  to  Western  Avenue,  Wilmington-Redondo  and 
Harbor  Boulevards. 

The  troubles  and  problems  of  this  valley  resolve  themselves  into  two  sections ;  the  upper 


—15— 

one  containing  in  round  numbers  36  square  miles,  or  more  than  20,000  acres,  originally  drained 
into  a  sink  shown  upon  Plate  XIV,  locally  known  as  Johnson's  Lake.  The  present  channel 
from  Johnson's  Lake  is  not  adequate  to  permit  the  waters  of  the  great  storms  to  escape 
fast  enough,  consequently  this  lake  is  created  and  often  reaches  a  surface  area  of  nearly  1000 
acres,  and  generally  remains  weeks  before  subsiding. 

Plate  XIV  and  Plate  XV  are  maps  of  the  channel,  and  Plate  XVI  shows  the  profile,  cross 
section  and  carrying  capacity  of  the  channel  at  different  points. 

Free  easements  over  six  and  one-half  miles  of  the  lower  end  of  this  channel  have  been 
secured,  and  I  might  add,  actual  construction  work  in  harmony  with  the  plans  and  specifica- 
tions of  tliis  office  are  already  under  way  by  the  Dominguez  interests. 

Tlie  estimated  cost  of  this  rectification  work  throughout  its  entire  length  of  thirteen  and 
one-half  miles,  from  Pine  Street  in  Inglewood  to  tide  water  near  Watson  Station,  less  any  al- 
lowance for  cost  of  right  of  way,  is  $56,590. 

The  rectification  and  enlargement  of  this  channel  will  have  a  beneficial  effect  over  a  ter- 
ritory of  about  seventy  square  miles  in  area,  or  more  than  40,000  acres.  This  is  now  assessed 
at  approximately  .1^13,000,000. 

The  lands,  right  of  way  and  easements  necessary  for  this  work  is  generally  described  as 
follows : 

A  strip  of  land  50  feet  in  width  extending  from  Pine  Street,  Tract  No.  2464,  about 
100  feet  east  of  Lock  Haven  Street,  thence  soutli  to  Garden  Avenue  in  said  tract;  thence 
southeasterly  to  a  point  in  Lincoln  Avenue,  in  Tract  No.  1631,  about  midway  between  Orange 
Avenue  and  Walnut  Avenue. 

A  strip  of  land  100  feet  in  width  extending  from  said  point  in  Lincoln  Avenue  south- 
easterly in  a  straight  line  to  a  point  in  Arlington  Street,  about  600  feet  north  of  Southern 
Avenue;  thence  south  following  the  line  of  Arlington  Street  to  Southern  Avenue. 

A  strip  of  land  150  feet  wide  and  about  1200  feet  long  extending  northeasterly  from  the 
intersection  of  Arlington  Street  and  Southern  Avenue. 

A  strip  of  land  150  feet  in  width  extending  from  the  intersection  of  Arlington  Street 
and  Southern  Avenue,  southwesterly  to  a  point  in  the  south  line  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
Section  22,  about  550  feet  east  of  the  center  of  said  Section  22. 

A  strip  of  land  125  feet  in  width  extending  from  said  south  line  of  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  Section  22,  following  in  general  the  meanderings  of  the  creek,  emptying  into  the  head- 
waters of  Nigger  Slough  and  passing  through  Bridgedale,  and  southerly  of  the  Town  of  Gar- 
dena,  to  the  intersection  of  said  channel  with  Victoria  Street. 

A  strip  of  laud  extending  from  said  last  mentioned  point  in  Victoria  Street  in  a  general 
southeasterly  direction  across  Nigger  Slough,  to  the  intersection  of  Wilmington  Avenue  and 
Wilmington  Street  and  varying  in  width  from  100  feet  at  the  point  of  commencement  to  225  feet, 
about  3000  feet  northwesterly  of  the  intersection  of  Wilmington  Avenue  and  Wilmington 
Street.  A  strip  of  land  225  feet  wide  and  extending  from  said  last  mentioned  point  in  a  gee 
eral  southeasterly  and  southerly  direction  to  the  right  of  way  of  the  Pacific  Electric  Rail- 
way just  northerly  from  the  Long  Beach  and  Redondo  Road  at  Watson  crossing. 

All  as  more  particularly  shown  on  Plates  XIV  and  XV. 

The  Gardena  Valley  Channel  project  has  been  approved  by  the  following  federated  so- 
cieties of  the  Gardena  Valley: 

"Location  of  channel  and  plans  approved  by  the  Federated  Societies  of  the  southwest  oF 
Gardena,  August  10.  1916.  C.  L.  TILLEY,  Secretary." 

"The  Southwest  Federation  of  Civic  Associations  of  Los  Angeles  County  at  Lenox,  August 
21,  1916.  H.  J.  ANDERSON,  Secretary." 

VERDUGO  WASH 
Plate  XVII  shows  map,  plan,  profile  and  cross  section  of  the  improvement  to  be  made  on 
Verdugo  Wa.sh.     This  improvement  consists  of  piling   and  wire  enclosing  a   channel  behind 


—16— 

which  on  either  side  of  the  channel,  trees  are  tc  be  planted  for  permanent  bank 
protection.  The  right  of  way  has  already  been  secured  by  the  City  of  Glendale  from  Ninth 
Street  to  above  Verdugo  Road.  The  easements  and  deeds  for  this  right  of  way  are  now  in 
the  possession  of  the  City  of  Glendale.  Between  Pacific  Street  and  the  Los  Angeles  River 
free  easements  have  been  secured,  and  are  in  the  possession  of  this  office.  No  easements  have 
as  yet  been  secured  between  Brand  Boulevard  and  Pacific  Street,  but  it  is  understood  that 
lh(ise  easements  will  be  granted  free. 

The  lands,  rights  of  way  and  easements  for  this  work  consist  of  a  strip  of  land  90  feet  wide, 
oxtending  from  the  northerly  boundary  line  of  the  City  of  Glendale  in  a  general  southerly  and 
southwesterly  direction,  following  generally  the  meanderings  of  the  present  storm  channel 
of  the  Verdugo  Wash  to  its  point  of  discharge  into  the  Los  Angeles  River,  all  as  more  particu- 
larly shown  on  Plate  XVII.  The  cost  of  this  work  is  $99,800.  The  Verdugo  Wash  project  has 
been  approved  as  follows : 

"Maps  and  plans  approved  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  City  of  Glendale,  October  26, 
1916.  ,  T.  W.  WATSON,  City  Manager." 

SYCAMORE  CANYON 

Plate  XVIII  shows  the  work  to  be  done  for  protection  against  the  flood  waters  of  Syca- 
more Canyon  as  it  passes  through  the  Cities  of  Glendale  and  Tropico.  This  plate  shows  map, 
profile  and  cross  section. 

In  Tropico,  only  the  cleaning  out  the  brush  and  slight  rectification  of  the  channel  as 
shown  upon  the  plan,  are  to  be  done.  The  City  of  Glendale  offers  to  provide  the  right  of 
way  between  Verdugo  Road  and  the  City  Limits  of  Tropico. 

The  following  is  a  general  description  of  the  lands,  easements  and  rights  of  way  to  be 
taken,  acquired  or  injured  in  executing  the  work  on  the  Sycamore  Canyon  Wash : 

For  the  sand-trap  the  following  bounded  parcel  of  land;  beginning  at  the  intersection 
of  Sycamore  Canyon  Road  with  the  easterly  line  of  the  land  owned  by  Dodge,  Harwood  and 
Sinclair  Water  &  Development  Company;  thence  southerly  about  175  feet  to  a  point  in  the 
fence  line ;  thence  southeasterly  across  the  valley  for  a  distance  of  about  120  feet  to  the  654  foot 
contour ;  thence  in  a  general  northeasterly  direction  along  the  654  foot  contour  and  around  this 
contour  on  the  other  side  of  the  Valley,  going  in  a  northwesterly  direction  to  the  northerly 
line  of  the  present  bank ;  thence  in  a  northerly  direction  to  the  south  line  of  the  Sycamore 
Canyon  Road,  thence  southwesterly  along  the  Sycamore  Canyon  Road  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. From  the  last  above  described  point  the  channel  will  follow  Sycamore  Avenue  south- 
westerly and  southerly  to  a  pump  house  on  the  property  of  the  Tupper  Robinson  Company, 
Incorporated,  near  the  southerly  boundary  of  the  City  of  Glendale ;  from  this  point  a  strip  of 
land  40  feet  wide  will  be  required  running  southwesterly  and  southerly  to  a  point  about  100  feet 
easterly  from  the  intersection  of  the  southerly  boundary  of  the  City  of  Tropico  with  the  Salt  Lake 
Railroad. 

Also  a  strip  40  feet  wide  commencing  at  a  point  about  200  feet  northerly  from  the 
intersection  of  Treadwell  Street  with  the  San  Fernando  Road;  thence  southeasterly  to  the 
easterly  side  of  tlie  Salt  Lake  Railroad;  thence  following  the  Salt  Lake  Railroad  to  Margue- 
rite Street ;  thence  westerly  to  the  west  side  of  the  Salt  Lake  Railway ;  thence  southerly  along  said 
Railway  to  a  point  near  the  intersection  of  the  San  Fernando  Road  and  Edward  Avenue,  all 
as  more  particularly  shown  on  Plate  XVIII. 

The  cost  of  making  the  rectification  of  Sycamore  Wash,  as  shown  on  Plate  XVIII  is  $28,- 
925.  Of  this  amoimt  $5000  is  for  right  of  way  for  the  construction  of  a  sand-trap,  Plate 
XVIII,  2.  This  sand-trap  will  protect  the  streets  and  property  of  Glendale  and  Tropico 
from  being  covered  with  large  deposits  of  sand. 

The  Sycamore  Canyon  Wash  project  has  been  approved  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Tropico. 


—17—      - 

Maps  and  plans  approved  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  City  of  Tropico,  November  1, 
■j^gjg  FRANK  E.  PETERS,  Chairman, 

W.  C.  WATTLES,  City  Engineer. 

SAN  JOSE  CREEK 

Plate  XIX  shows  map,  profile  and  cross  section  for  the  care  of  flood  waters  in  this  creek. 
A  free  easement  for  an  official  channel  75  feet  in  width  for  the  entire  length  and  area  shown 
upon  this  map  has  already  been  received  from  the  owners. 

The  work  necessary  to  be  done  upon  San  Jose  Creek  consists  of  cleaning  and  clearing  the 
present  channel  and  of  cutting  off  sharp  bends  as  shown  upon  the  map.  The  amount  of  money 
required  for  the  correction  Avork  is  $8000. 

The  land,  easements,  rights  of  ways  necessary  to  be  taken  or  acquired  for  these  works 
may  be  generally  described  as  follows: 

A  strip  of  land  75  feet  wide  commencing  at  the  intersection  of  Pomona  Boulevard  and 
the  westerly  line  of  the  property  of  Michael  J.  Scanlon ;  thence  in  an  easterly  direction,  fol- 
lowing approximately  the  line  of  the  old  channel  to  a  point  in  a  westerly  line  of  Pomona  City 
Park  about  150  feet  from  the  Pacific  Electric  Railway  on  Huntington  Boulevard ;  all  as  more 
particularly  shown  on  Plate  XIX. 

Approval  of  plans  for  the  correction  of  this  creek  is  evidenced  by  the  complete  co-oper- 
ation of  adjacent  land  owners  in  their  donation  of  the  rights  of  way. 

PASADENA  AND  ALTADENA 

Plate  XX  shows  the  map  and  profile  and  cross  section  of  the  work  to  be  done  in  this 
vicinity.  This  work  extends  from  a  point  just  east  of  Pair  Oaks  Avenue  to  the  Arroyo  Seco. 
The  right  of  way  necessary  for  these  works  will  be  50  feet  wide.  The  channel  will  be  lined  with 
concrete  where  the  velocities  are  great.  Use  has  been  made  of  existing  canyon  beds  to  a  large  ex- 
tent, and  it  is  thought  that  the  beds  of  these  canyons  are  so  stable  that  no  serious  erosion 
will  take  place.  This  stream  channel  will  act  as  an  intercepting  channel  to  take  the  flood 
waters  which  now  flow  southerly  through  Altadena  and  on  to  the  north  part  of  the  City  of 
Pasadena,  and  conduct  them  in  a  generally  westerly  direction  harmlessly  to  the  Arroyo  Seco, 
where  they  may  be  spread  on  the  gravel  cone  to  percolate  into  the  soil  for  beneficial  use. 

The  lands,  easements  and  rights  of  way  necessary  to  be  taken  or  acquired  for  these  works 
may  be  generally  described  as  follows : 

A  strip  of  land  150  feet  wide  described  as  follows : 

Beginning  at  a  point  in  Lot  1,  Section  4,  Township  1  North,  Range  12  West,  approxi- 
mately 650  feet  west  of  the  east  line  of  said  Lot  1 ;  thence  in  a  general  westerly  direction  a 
distance  of  approximately  1000  feet. 

A  strip  of  land  150  feet  wide  described  as  follows:  Beginning  at  the  end  of  the  strip 
last  described  and  extending  in  a  general  westerly  direction  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Tract 
No.  348 ;  thence  west  along  the  north  line  of  said  Tract  No.  348,  in  a  westerly  and  a  general 
southwesterly  direction  to  a  point  in  Lincoln  Avenue  about  500  feet  northerly  of  Piedmont 
Avenue. 

A  strip  of  land  75  feet  wide  extending  from  the  last  above  mentioned  point  in  a  gen- 
eral westerly  direction  to  the  intersection  of  the  right  of  way  of  the  Salt  Lake  Railroad 
and  the  northerly  line  of  the  Rancho  San  Pasqual  in  the  Arroyo  Seco.  All  as  shown  upon 
Plate  XX. 

The  estimated  cost  of  this  work  is  $30,320. 

The  proposed  Flood  Control  Channel  for  the  District  north  of  Altadena  project  has  been 
approved  as  follows : 

The  West  Aitadena  Improvement  Association  on  December  5,  1916,  passed  a  resolution 
endorsing  the  plan  as  proposed  for  their  protection  against  storm  and  flood  water. 

C.  H.  WOODS,  President. 
A.  H.  PERKINS,  Secretary. 


-     —18— 

HAINES  CANYON 

The  work  to  be  done  in  Haines  Canyon  Wash,  which  embraces  the  settlement  of  Little- 
lands,  now  renamed  Tujunga,  and  Sunlaud,  is  shown  on  plan,  map,  profile  and  cross  section, 
on  Plate  XXI. 

This  plate  shows  the  plan  of  work  for  the  control  of  storm  waters  from  Haines  Canyon 
which  for  the  upper  part  of  the  valley,  is  a  wide,  spreading  and  absorption  ground  for  drop- 
ping the  load  of  detritus  which  yet  comes  in  considerable   volume  from   the   canyon. 

The  principle  adopted  here,  in  these  works  of  building  a  large  enclosure  for  the  spread- 
ing of  water  and  dropping  its  detritus  is  very  common  in  Europe,  but  is  quite  the  opposite  of 
the  storm  drain  method  tried  in  this  section  two  years  ago. 

The  levees  in  the  detrital  cone  will  be  thrown  up  with  a  steam  shovel,  raising  the 
levees  to  a  height  of  eight  feet,  and  enclosing  an  area  of  35  acres  of  practically  worth- 
less land.  This  land  should  be  donated  to  the  district  through  easements,  as  it  is  of  no 
value  for  residential  or  agricultural  purposes,  its  position  and  character  being  shown  in 
the   picture    (photograph)    following   Plate   XXI. 

The  land,  easements  and  rights  of  way  necessary  to  be  taken,  and  acquired  for  these  works 
may  be  generally  described  as  follows: 

A  strip  of  land  varying  in  width  from  100  feet  to  800  feet,  more  or  less,  beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  Haines  Canyon  approximately  1100  feet  north  of  Los  Angeles  Avenue  and  200  feet  east 
of  the  Kings  Highway ;  thence  in  a  general  southwesterly  direction  crossing  El  Centro  Avenue 
at  a  point  approximately  500  feet  west  of  Haines  Canyon  Road  and  continuing  in  a  southwester- 
ly direction  to  a  point  in  Michigan  Avenue  approximately  1800  feet  west  of  Marshall  Street.  A 
strip  of  land  75  feet  wide  extending  from  said  last  mentioned  point  in  a  general  northwesterly 
direction  following  the  present  bed  of  the  Haines  Canyon  Wash  to  its  .junction  with  the  Tu- 
junga Wash  just  northerly  of  North  Street  and  westerly  of  First  Street;  all  as  more  fully 
shown  upon  Plate  XXI. 

The  cost  of  this  construction  work  will  be  $33,500,  exclusive  of  right  of  way. 

WALNUT   CREEK 

Plate  XXIII  is  a  map  of  the  Walnut  Creek  from  the  Rio  Hondo  to  just  above  Citrus  Ave- 
nue. The  right  of  way  necessary  for  this  project  is  shown  between  the  red  lines  on  this  jilate. 
The  channel  will  follow  the  present  stream  to  a  point  approximately  400  feet  east  of  Puente 
Avenue.  From  there  to  Vineland  Avenue  the  wash  has  cut  a  new  channel  deeper  and  wider 
than  its  old  one,  lying  to  the  north  of  the  old  channel.  This  new  channel  will  be  used  and  the 
old  one  abandoned.  E''rom  Vineland  Avenue  to  Rio  Hondo  the  present  stream  bed  will  be  fol- 
lowed. The  right  of  way  has  been  largely  secured  over  this  entire  wash,  and  it  is  anticipated 
that  all  of  it  will  be  secured  for  the  district,  free  of  charge.  The  work  to  be  done  above  Sun- 
set Avenue  is  comparatively  slight,  as  the  water  flows  in  a  deep,  well-defined  channel.  At 
certain  of  the  worst  places  where  erosion  is  now  taking  place,  or  is  threatened,  a  fence  will 
be  built  along  the  bank  and  filled  with  brush  and  orchard  cuttings  to  prevent  any  further 
damage. 

It  is  anticipated  that  the  work  being  done  on  Walnut  Creek  by  the  local  ranchers  this 
winter  will  result  in  lowering  the  stream  bed  just  above  Puente  Avenue  from  1  to  2  feet.  This 
will  have  a  beneficial  effect  upon  the  stream  for  a  long  distance  above  Puente  Avenue.  It  will 
be  necessary  to  deepen  and  widen  this  channel  to  30  feet  on  the  bottom,  and  to  protect  the 
banks  from  erosion  by  constructing  a  single  row  of  fence,  and  filling  between  it  and  the  bank 
with  orchard  cuttings.    A  profile  of  this  wash  is  shown  on  Plate  XXIV. 

The  land,  easements  and  rights  of  way  necessary  to  be  taken  and  acquired  for  these 
works  may  be  generally  described  as  follows: 

A  strip  of  land  75  feet  wide,  beginning  at  a  point  in  the  present  bed  of  the  Walnut  Creek 
approximately  1000  feet  north  of  Service  Avenue  and  400  feet  east  of  Citrus  Avenue; 
thence  in  a  general  westerly  direction  following  the  meanderings  of  the  Walnut  Creek  Wash 


—19— 

to  a  point  approximately  300  feet  west  of  Puente  Avenue,  and  900  feet  northerly  of  Franeis- 
quito  Avenue. 

A  strip  of  land  not  less  than  100  feet  wide  and  varying  in  width  extending  from 
last  above  mentioned  point  in  a  general  westerly  direction  to  the  present  crossing  of 
Covina  Boulevard  over  the  Walnut  Wash  and  in  general  following  the  course  of  the  cut 
or  wash  made  new  in  the  storms  of  1915-16;  thence  a  strip  of  laud  of  varying  width 
extending  in  a  general  southerly  and  westerly  direction  to  the  East  San  Gabriel  River; 
all   as   more   fully   shown   on  Plate   XXIII. 

The  cost  of  this  work  will  be  $29,920. 

SAN  DIMAS  WASH 

Plate  XXV  shows  the  plan  of  work  to  be  done  on  San  Dimas  Wash.  Plate  XXVI 
shows  profile  and  cross  section  of  this  wash.  The  right  of  way  necessary  for  stream  chan- 
nel is  shown  between  the  red  lines  on  Plate  XXV.  This  wash  will  be  carried  in  a  channel 
as  wide  as  it  occupied  in  the  storm  of  January,  1916,  from  the  mountairis  to  where  the 
wash  now  crosses  the  center  line  of  Section  Jl,  Township  1  South,  Range  10  West,  just  east 
of  Azusa  Avenue.  From  this  point  on,  a  channel  will  be  opened  westward  along  the  cen- 
ter line  of  Sections  10  and  11  to  the  Big  Dalton  Wash. 

The  policy  to  be  pursued  upon  the  San  Dimas  Wash  is  to  reduce  as  much  as  is  consistent 
the  velocity  of  the  waters  and  to  cause  them  to  percolate  into  the  soil  for  beneficial  use.  In 
general  the  present  banks  will  be  followed  from  the  mountains  to  the  center  line  of  Section 
11.  From  the  center  line  of  Section  11  to  the  Big  Dalton  Wash  a  new  channel  will  be  dug 
witli  a  steam  shovel  and  a  very  substantial  levee  will  be  placed  on  the  south  side  of  the  channel. 
In  addition  the  banks  will  be  protected  from  erosion.  This  cut-off  of  the  San  Dimas  will  re- 
move the  threatened  menace  to  that  large  body  of  land  lying  south  and  west  of  Covina.  As  it 
is  necessary  to  construct  and  maintain  a  channel  for  the  combined  flow  of  the  Big  and  Little 
Daltons,  it  is  deemed  to  be  for  the  best  interests  of  the  entire  district  to  place  the  waters 
of  the  San  Dimas  Wash  in  this  channel,  thereby  necessitating  the  maintenance  of  but  one 
channel  from  the  center  line  of  Section  10  to  Waluut  Creek. 

The  type  of  construction  to  be  used  will  vary.  On  the  upper  reaches  of  the  San  Dimas 
Wash  a  steam  shovel  will  be  used  to  throw  up  large  boulder  dikes ;  lower  down  where  the 
boulders  become  too.  small  for  this  use  a  double  wire  fence  filled  with  brush  will  be  built, 
and  possibly  below  this  a  single  wire  fence  with  brush  between  the  fence  and  the  bank  will 
be  built  where  feasible. 

The  land,  easements  and  rights  of  way  necessary  to  be  taken  or  acquired  for  these  works 
may  be  generally  described  as  follows : 

A  strip  of  land  of  variable  width  beginning  at  a  point  where  the  San  Dimas  Wash  issues 
from  the  mouth  of  the  canyon  near  the  northeast  corner  of  Section  36,  Township  1  North, 
Range  9  West;  thence  following  the  general  meanderings  of  the  present  bed  of  the  San 
Dimas  Wash  in  a  general  southwesterly  direction  crossing  Gladstone  Avenue  near  the  in- 
tersection of  Sunset  Avenue  and  crossing  Glendora  Avenue  about  500  feet  north  of  Walnut 
Street,  crossing  Citrus  Avenue  approximately  1200  feet  north  of  Covina  Boulevard  to  the  cen- 
ter line  of  Section  10,  Township  1  South,  Range  10  West;  thence  leaving  the  present  bed  of 
the  San  Dimas  Wash  and  continuing  westerly  along  the  i/i  section  line  to  the  junction  of  the 
Big  Dalton  Wash,  all  as  more  particularly  shown   upon   Plate   XXV. 

The  estimated  cost  of  the  right  of  way  is  $6320  and  for  construction  work  $31,510,  mak- 
ing a  total  for  the  San  Dimas  Wash  $37,830. 

The  scheme  of  putting  the  waters  of  the  San  Dimas  Wash  and  the  Big  and  Little 
Dalton  Washes  into  one  channel  as  outlined  before  was  approved  by  the  interested  local 
parties. 

"By  the  West  Covina  Improvement  Association  on  June  12.  1916. 

RALPH  T.  LANG,  Secretary." 

"The  Baldwin  Park  Flood  Committee  on  June  29,  1916. 

W.  P.  MOORE,  Secretary." 


—20— 

BIG  DALTON  WASH 

The  plan  of  the  work  to  be  done  on  the  Big  Dalton  is  shown  on  Plate  XXVII,  which  work 
extends  from  the  mountains  to  its  continence  with  tlie  Walnut  AVash.  The  profile  is  shown 
on  Plate  XXVIII.  The  work  which  was  done  during  the  last  summer  by  the  ranchers  along 
this  stream  has  practically  determined  the  policy  of  control.  Along  the  greater  part  of  its  length 
the  Big  Dalton  has  been  confined  within  a  narrow  channel  having  well  defined  banks,  with  the 
result  that  the  water  will  flow  more  freely  and  faster  to  its  mouth.  The  type  of  construction 
to  be  used  on  this  wash  is  the  same  as  that  recommended  for  the  San  Dimas,  namely,  on  the 
upper  reaches,  by  throwing  up  boulders  with  a  steam  shovel  to  form  dikes  on  either  side,  and 
lower  down  constructing  a  double  row  of  wire  fence  filled  with  brush,  or  where  the  banks 
will  permit,  of  a  single  row  of  fencing  with  brush  behind. 

From  the  mountains  to  the  north  line  of  the  property  owned  by  Ella  P.  Hubbard  near  the 
center  of  Section  9,  Township  1  North,  Range  10  West,  the  wash  will  be  confined  to  its  pres- 
ent channel.  Near  this  point  the  water  of  the  wash  now  flows  south  on  Vincent  Avenue  and 
west  on  Cypress  Avenue  to  the  .iunction  with  the  Little  Dalton  Wash.  This  water  is  to  be  taken 
out  of  the  public  highway  and  carried  along  the  center  line  of  Section  9  to  the  junction  of  the 
Little  Dalton,  thence  down  the  channel  of  the  Little  Dalton  to  Cypress  Avenue,  where  at  pres- 
ent the  two  streams  come  together.  From  the  junction  of  the  Big  Dalton  and  Little  Dalton  it 
is  proposed  to  carry  the  stream  in  its  present  channel  to  a  point  just  above  the  Pacific  Elec- 
tric Railway,  Covina  Branch.  From  this  point  to  Walnut  Wash  the  Big  Dalton  is  a  compara- 
tively narrow  stream,  through  a  flat,  fertile  country. 

Prom  a  point  above  the  Southern  Pacific  to  Central  Avenue  below  Baldwin  Park  it  will 
be  advantageous  to  straighten  this  channel  as  shown  on  Plate  XXVII.  From  Central  Ave- 
nue to  Walnut  AVash  the  Big  Dalton  follows  a  well-defined  channel  until  just  above  Merced  Ave- 
nue, where  it  begins  to  wander,  and  the  channel  finally  ends  by  running  down  the  highway. 

From  Central  Avenue  to  Walnut  Wash  the  stream  channel  in  its  upper  end  is  approxi- 
mately 450  feet  from,  and  parallel  to  Vineland  Avenue.  As  this  line  is  the  dividing  line  be- 
tween the  end  of  the  properties  it  is  thought  this  will  be  the  best  location  for  the  stream  chan- 
nel. It  is  proposed  to  carry  this  straight  down  this  line  450  feet  back  from  Vineland  Avenue 
to  a  junction  with  Walnut  Wash. 

The  land,  easements  and  rights  of  way  necessary  to  be  taken  or  acquired  for  these  works 
may  be  generally  described  as  follows: 

A  strip  of  land  of  varying  width,  beginning  at  a  point  about  500  feet  from  the  center  of 
Section  21,  Township  1  North,  Range  9  West,  S.  B.  B.  and  M.,  where  the  Big  Dalton  emerges 
from  the  canyon,  and  extending  thence  in  a  general  southwesterly  direction  to  a  point  ap- 
proximately 300  feet  southerly  from  Sierra  Madre  AA'enue ;  thence  a  strip  of  land  100  feet 
wide  beginning  at  said  last  mentioned  point,  and  following  in  a  general  direction  the  meander- 
ings  of  the  present  Big  Dalton  Wash  in  a  southerly  direction  to  the  southerly  line  of  Alosta 
Avenue;  said  point  being  approximately  650  feet  east  of  Loraine  Avenue. 

A  strip  of  land  of  varying  width  extending  from  said  last  mentioned  point  in  a  southwest- 
erly direction  and  in  general  following  the  present  meanderings  of  the  Big  Dalton  Wash  to  a 
line  between  lands  owned  by  Orrin  A.  Elliott  and  Charles  F.  Koendorfer. 

A  strip  of  land  100  feet  wide  running  in  a  southwesterly  direction  from  said  last  men- 
tioned point,  and  in  general  following  the  meanderings  of  the  Big  Dalton  Wash  to  a  point 
in  Citrus  Avenue  approximately  1200  feet  south  of  Gladstone  Avenue. 

A  strip  of  land  80  feet  wide  extending  rom  said  last  mentioned  point  in  a  general 
southwesterly  and  westerly  direction  to  a  point  in  Cerritos  Avenue,  approximately  600  feet 
north  of  Walnut  Avenue. 

A  strip  of  land  GO  feet  wide  beginning  at  said  last  mentioned  point  and  extending  in  a 
general  southwesterly  direction  following  the  general  meanderings  of  the  Big  Dalton  Wash 
to  the  southerly  line  of  the  land  owned  by  the  Iowa  Land  Investment  Company. 


—21— 

A  strip  of  laud  100  feet  wide  extending  from  said  last  mentioned  point  in  a  general  west- 
erly direction  to  the  present  bed  of  the  Little  Dalton  Wash ;  thence  following  the  bed  of  the 
Little  Dalton  Wash  in  a  southwesterly  direction  to  its  junction  with  the  Big  Dalton,  at  the 
corner  of  Azusa  Canyon  Road  and  Puente  and  Azusa  Bridge  Road ;  thenee  in  a  general  south- 
westerly direction  following  in  general  the  meauderings  of  the  present  bed  of  the  Big  Dal- 
ton Wash  to  a  point  in  Merced  Avenue,  approximately  450  feet  southeasterly  of  Vineland 
Avenue;  thence  in  a  direct  line  parallel  to  Vineland  Avenue  to  the  junction  with  Walnut 
Creek.    All  as  more  particularly  shown  upon  Plate  XXVII. 

The  cost  of  the  work  will  be  $99,060.00. 

LITTLE  DALTON  WASH 

The  work  proposed  to  be  done  on  the  Little  Dalton  Wash  is  shown  on  Plate  XXIX. 
The  profile  is  shown  on  Plate  XXX.  It  is  proposed  to  carry  this  wash  from  the  mountains 
largely  within  the  confines  of  the  present  stream  bed,  except  for  some  minor  changes  where 
the  channel  is  very  crooked  and  should  be  straightened. 

The  land,  easements  and  rights  of  way  necessary  to  be  taken  or  acquired  for  these  works 
may  be  generally  described  as  follows; 

A  strip  of  land  of  varying  width  beginning  at  a  point  where  the  Little  Dalton  Wash 
emerges  from  its  mountainous  canyon  in  the  southeast  i^  of  Section  20,  Township  1  North, 
Range  9  West,  S.  B.  B.  &  M.;  thence  in  a  general  southwesterly  direction  in  general  follow- 
ing the  course  of  the  present  Little  Dalton  Wash  to  a  point  in  Lorraine  Avenue  approx- 
imately 950  feet  north  of  Sierra  Madre  Avenue. 

A  strip  of  land  75  feet  wide  beginning  at  said  last  mentioned  point  and  in  general  fol- 
lowing in  a  southwesterly  direction  the  present  course  of  the  Little  Dalton  Wash  to 
the  intersection  of  Minnesota  and  Electric  Streets  in  the  City  of  Glendora. 

A  strip  of  land  50  feet  wide  beginning  at  said  last  mentioned  point  and  extending  in  a 
general  southwesterly  direction,  thence  following  the  course  of  the  present  bed  of  the 
Little  Dalton  Wash  to  a  point  near  the  intersection  of  Grand  Avenue  and  Foothill  Boule- 
vard. 

A  strip  of  land  75  feet  wide  beginning  at  said  last  mentioned  point  and  extending  in  a 
general  southwest  direction  along  the  present  course  of  the  Little  Dalton  Wash,  passing 
near  the  intersection  of  First  Street  and  Soldano  Avenue;  continuing  thence  in  a  general 
southwesterly  direction  and  following  the  course  of  the  present  Little  Dalton  Wash  to  its 
junction  with  the  Big  Dalton  Wash  near  the  southerly  line  of  the  land  owned  by  William 
H.  Parks  at  Vincent  Avenue;  all  as  more  fully  shown  upon  Plate  XXIX. 

The  cost  of  the  work  will  be  $26,920.00. 

SAW  PIT  WASH 

Plate  XXXI  is  a  map  of  Sawpit  Wash ;  Plate  XXXII  is  a  profile  of  Sawpit  Wash.  The 
waters  of  this  wash  are  to  be  spread  broadly  over  the  wide  gravelly  bed  above  the  Foothill 
Boulevard,  and  all  the  water  possible  allowed  to  percolate  mto  the  ground  for  beneficial  use. 
Below  Foothill  Boulevard  it  is  to  be  confine  witliin  a  comparatively  narrow  channel  as  far 
as  one  now  exists.  With  this  wash  treated  in  this  way  below  the  mouth  of  the  canyon, 
coupled  with  the  check  dams  which  are  to  be  built  in  the  headwaters,  it  is  expected  that 
all  of  this  water  will  percolate  into  the  ground  and  none  of  it  reach  the  Rio  Hondo  as  a  surface 
flow.  The  right  of  way  necessary  for  this  is  shown  in  red  on  the  accompanying  map.  The 
improved  channel  will  occupy  all  of  the  present  wash  and  side  cutting  will  be  prevented  by 
the  construction  of  a  single  or  double  row  of  fencing  filled  with  brush  and  rock. 

A  general  description  of  the  lands,  rights  of  way,  easements  and  property  proposed  to  be 
taken,  acquired  or  injured  is  as  follows: 

A  strip  of  land  of  varying  width  described  as  follows:  Beginning  at  the  approximate 
mouth  of  the  Sawpit  Canyon  where  the  present  wash  crosses  the  east  boundary  line  of  the  City 
of  Monrovia;  thence  in  a  general  southerly  direction  following  the  present  course  of  the 


—22— 

Sawpit  Wash  to  the  intersection  of  JMountain  Avenue  and  Duarte  Avenue,  thence  continuing 
in  a  general  southerly  direction  along  the  present  bed  of  Sawpit  Wash  as  far  as  the  stream 
now  flows  in  a  definite  channel;  all  as  more  fully  shown  upon  Plate  XXXI. 
The  estimated  cost  of  this  work  is  $4,835. 

SANTA   ANITA   WASHES 

The  general  plan  of  the  Santa  Anita  Wash  is  shown  upon  Plate  XXXIII.  The  profile  and 
cross  section  are  shown  upon  Plate  XXXIV.  The  rights  of  way  necessary  for  the  carrying 
out  of  this  plan  are  included  within  the  red  lines  shown  upon  Plate  XXXIII.  The  wash 
will  be  confined  to  its  present  channel  all  the  way.  It  is  proposed  to  protect  the  banks  of 
this  wash  from  erosion  by  brush  and  wire  fences,  either  in  single  or  double  rows,  as  the 
necessity  of  the  case  may  determine. 

A  general  description  of  the  lands,  rights  of  way,  easements  and  property  proposed  to  be 
taken,  acquired  or  injured  is  as  follows: 

A  strip  of  land  150  feet  wide  described  as  follows : 

Beginning  at  a  point  where  the  little  Santa  Anita  Wash  crosses  Live  Oak  Avenue ;  thence 
in  a  general  southeasterly  direction  to  the  junction  with  the  big  Santa  Anita  Wash. 

A  strip  of  land  200  feet  wide  described  as  follows : 

Beginning  at  a  point  on  Live  Oak  Avenue  approximately  1400  feet  east  of  the  intersection 
of  Live  Oak  Avenue  and  Santa  Anita  Avenue ;  thence  in  a  general  southerly  direction  follow- 
ing the  present  course  of  the  Big  Santa  Anita  Wash  to  Foothill  Boulevard. 

A  strip  of  land  300  feet  wide  described  as  follows: 

Beginning  at  said  last  mentioned  point  and  following  the  general  course  of  the  big  Santa 
Anita  Wash  in  a  general  southerly  direction  to  a  point  on  Valnett  Avenue  approximately 
400  feet  west  of  Tenth  Avenue. 

A  strip  of  land  100  feet  wide  extending  from  said  last  mentioned  point  in  a  southerly  di- 
rection following  the  general  course  of  the  present  Big  Santa  Anita  Wash  to  its  junction  with 
Lexington  AVash ;  all  as  more  fully  shown  upon  Plate  XXXIII. 

The  estimated  cost  of  this  work  is  $27,350. 

EATON  WASH 

The  work  to  be  done  on  Eaton  Wash  is  shown  on  Plate  XXXV. 

The  right  of  way  necessary  for  the  work  is  shown  between  the  red  lines  on  this  plate. 
The  profile  and  cross  sections  of  the  wash  are  shown  on  Plate  XXXVI.  On  the  upper  reaches 
of  the  wash  it  is  proposed  to  spread  the  waters  entirely  over  the  present  stream  bed,  caus- 
ing them  to  percolate  as  much  as  possible  into  the  soil  and  to  be  conserved  for  the  beneficial 
use  of  all  those  using  underground  water  within  this  basin.  On  the  lower  end  of  Eaton  Can- 
yon Wash  it  will  be  necessary  to  contract  the  channel  and  cause  scouring,  and  to  this  end  the 
flow  is  to  be  confined  if  possible  between  earth  dikes.  The  stream  will  follow  the  present 
channel. 

A  general  description  of  the  lands,  rights  of  way,  easements  and  property  proposed  to 
be  taken,  acquired  or  injured  is  as  follows : 

A  strip  of  land  of  varying  width  described  as  follows: 

Beginning  at  a  point  in  the  present  bed  of  the  Eaton  Wash  approximately  3600  feet 
northerly  of  the  east  end  of  North  Avenue ;  thence  in  a  general  southerly  direction  follow- 
ing the  present  course  of  the  Eaton  Wash  crossing  Broadway  in  the  City  of  San  Gabriel 
approximately  650  feet  westerly  of  Kosemead  Avenue  and  continuing  thence  in  a  general 
southeasterly  direction  following  the  meanderings  of  the  present  bed  of  the  stream  of  the 
Eaton  Wash  to  a  point  approximately  800  feet  east  of  Ellis  Lane  and  northerly  of  the  South- 
ern Pacific  Railroad,  then  following  the  general  meandering  of  Eaton  Wash  in  a  southerly 
direction  to  its  present  junction  M'ith  Lexington  Wash,  all  as  more  fully  shown  on  Plate 
XXXV. 

The  estimated  cost  of  this  work  is  $27,650.00. 


—23— 

RUBIO    CANYON    WASH 

The  work  to  be  done  ou  Rubio  Canyon  Wash  is  shown  upon  Plate  XXXVII.  The  right 
of  way  necessary  for  this  is  shown  in  red  on  this  plate.  The  brown  lines  show  the  right 
of  way  belonging  to  the  San  Gabriel  Protection  District.  Tlie  profile  and  cross  sections  are 
shown  on  Plate  XXXVIII.  The  upper  Rubio  Wash  waters  are  carried  in  a  concrete 
conduit  to  a  point  just  below  the  Pacific  Electric  Railway  tracks.  From  this  point  it  Avill 
be  necessary  to  do  bank  protection  practically  the  entire  distance.  Immediately  below  the 
mouth  of  the  concrete  conduit  it  will  be  necessary  not  only  to  put  in  bank  protection  but 
check  dams  across  the  channel  in  order  to  prevent  scouring  and  deepening  of  the  channel. 
This  work  has  been  undertaken  and  carried  out  by  private  parties.  It  will  only  be  neces- 
sary to  maintain  these  works.  Lower  down  it  will  be  necessary  to  put  in  bank  protection 
consisting  of  brush  and  wire  fences,  and  on  the  lower  end  of  the  wash  to  build  dikes  to  cause 
erosion. 

A  general  description  of  the  land,  rights  of  way,  easements  and  property  proposed  to  be 
taken,  acquired  or  injured  is  as  follows: 

A  strip  of  land  100  feet  wide  described  as  follows : 

Beginning  at  a  point  in  Maple  Avenue  approximately  400  feet  west  of  Pine  Street;  thence 
in  a  general  southerly  direction  following  the  present  course  of  Rubio  Wash  to  a  point  on 
the  San  Gabriel  and  El  Monte  Road  approximately  200  feet  west  of  Fourth  Street. 

A  strip  of  land  60  feet  wide  described  as  follows: 

Begninmg  at  said  last  mentioned  point  and  extending  in  a  general  southerly  direction 
along  the  right  of  way  now  owned  by  the  San  Gabriel  Protection  District,  the  lower  end 
of  which  is  approximately  1000  feet  east  of  the  intersection  of  Rosemead  and  Garvey  Ave- 
nues; all  as  more  fully  shown  on  Plate  XXXVII. 

The  work  herein  described  will  cost  $10,090.00. 

ALHAMBRA  WASH 
Plate  XXXIX  shows  the  general  plan  of  AlJiambra  Wash.  The  profile  and  cross  sec-- 
tions  are  shown  upon  Plate  XL.  In  general  the  present  stream  bed  will  be  followed.  The 
rights  of  way  necessary  for  this  work  are  shown  between  the  red  lines  on  Plate  XXXIX. 
At  this  time  it  is  thought  that  the  work  need  not  go  above  Pomona  Boulevard.  The 
work  will  consist  of  the  construction  of  brush  and  wire  fences  to  prevent  bank  erosion 
to  a  point  below  Garvey  Avenue,  where  the  banks  of  the  stream  become  low,  and  from  this 
point  on  in  clearing  the  willows  from  the  channel  and  putting  up  earth  dikes  necessary  to 
prevent  the  water  from  spreading  broadly  over  the  fertile  lands  between  there  and  the  Rio 
Hondo. 

A  general  de.scription  of  the  lands,  rights  of  way,  easements  and  property  proposed  to 
be  taken,  acquired  or  injured,  is  as  follows: 

A  strip  of  land  of  varying  width  described  as  follows: 

Beginning  at  a  point  in  the  line  between  the  property  owned  by  J.  D.  Gilliland  and 
Herman  Stephenson,  said  point  being  400  feet  west  of  the  west  line  of  lands  of  Ira  0.  Gardiner, 
Trustee;  thence  in  a  general  southeasterly  direction  following  the  course  of  the  pres- 
ent bed  of  the  Alhambra  Wash  crossing  Pomona  Boulevard  at  a  point  550  feet  west  of  Del 
Mar  Avenue. 

A  strip  of  land  75  feet  wide  described  as  follows : 

Beginning  at  said  last  mentioned  point  and  following  tlie  general  course  of  the 
present  bed  of  the  Alhambra  Wash  in  a  "Southeasterly  direction  crossing  Garvey  Avenue  at  a 
point  150  feet  west  of  San  Gabriel  Boulevard  and  continuing  in  a  general  southeasterly  di- 
rection along  the  present  channel  of  the  Alhambra  Wash  to  its  junction  with  the  Rio  Hondo 
or  the  Lexington  Wash  at  a  point  on  Nieto  Avenue  approximately  100  feet  north  of  the 


—24— 

northeast   corner  of  the   lands   of  Mary   F.   Lieber;  all  as  more  fully  shown  on  Plate  XXXIX. 
The  work  to  be  done  will  cost  $9,835.00. 

WEST  WHITTIER  FLOOD  CONTROL 

Plate  XLI  shows  plan,  profile  and  cross  sections  of  the  work  to  be  done  to  control  and 
adjust  the  flood  conditions  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Whittier  Boulevard  and  the  Workman  Mill 
Road.  The  concrete  channel  will  be  built  from  Magnolia  Avenue  to  a  point  400  feet  east  of 
the  San  Gabriel  River,  as  shown  upon  Plate  XLI. 

This  ditch  will  take  care  of  the  water  now  coming  down  the  Workman  ]Mill  Road, 
which  causes  such  an  annoyance  around  the  pumping  plant  of  the  City  of  Whittier. 

A  general  description  of  the  lands,  rights  of  way,  easements  and  property  proposed  to 
be  taken  acquired  or  injured  is  as  follows: 

A  strip  of  land  30  feet  wide  described  as  follows: 

Beginning  at  a  point  1600  feet  southerly  of  the  intersection  of  Magnolia  Avenue 
and  Lemon  Street  at  the  center  line  of  an  unnamed  street;  thence  in  a  general  westerly 
direction  to  the  right  of  way  of  the  Salt  Lake  Railroad;  thence  north-westerly  along  the 
northerly  side  of  said  right  of  way  to  the  Workman  Mill  Road  near  the  northerly  corner 
of  the  lands  of  Harriet  W.  R.  Strong;  thence  southwesterly  along  the  Workman  Mill  Road, 
to  a  point  approximately  500  feet  distant. 

A  strip  of  land  40  feet  wide  described  as  follows: 

Beginning  at  said  last  mentioned  point  and  running  thence  north-westerly  along  a  lot 
line  to  the  north-west  corner  of  the  lands  of  Laura  E.  Brodrick ;  thence  continuing  in  a  gen- 
eral northwesterly  line  along  the  southerly  line  of  the  lands  of  the  Citrus  Grove  Heights 
Company  to  the  channel  of  the  San  Gabriel  River  all  as  more  fully  shown  upon  Plate  No. 
XLI.     The  estimated  cost  of  this  work  is  $20,940. 

COMPTON  CREEK 

Plate  LV  is  a  map,  of  the  territory  traversed  by  Compton  Creek.  Plate  LVI  is  a  profile 
and  cross  section  of  this  stream  from  Vermont  Avenue  to  the  southerly  line  of  the  City  of 
Compton.  Compton  Creek  will  be  widened,  deepened  and  straightened  to  provide  for  the 
flood  water  of  this  territory  locally. 

This  construction  Avork  will  take  care  of  the  waters  now  causing  so  much  damage,  not 
only  to  the  city  of  Compton,  but  above. 

The  lands,  easements  and  rights  of  way,  necessary  to  be  taken,  acquired  or  injured  for  these 
works  may  be  generally  described  as  follows: 

A  strip  of  land  50  feet  wide  beginning  at  a  point  at  the  intersection  of  Vermont  Avenue 
and  98th  Street;  extending  in  a  general  southeasterly  direction  following  in  general  the 
present  bed  of  Compton  Creek,  to  the  northwest  corner  of  the  City  of  Compton;  thence 
continuing  in  a  general  southeasterly  direction  following  the  course  of  Compton  Creek 
to  near  tlie  intersection  of  the  Long  Beach  branch  of  the  Pacific  Electric  Railway  with  the 
southerly  line  of  the  City  of  Compton;  thence  continuing  in  a  general  south-easterly  direction 
to  the  bridge  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  over  Compton  Creek;  thence  continuing  in  a 
general  south-easterly  direction  practically  parallel  to  the  Long  Beach  branch  of  the  Pacific 
Electric  Railway  to  the  Los  Angeles  River,  all  as  more  fully  shown  on  Plate  LV. 

The  cost  of  the  work  will  be  $20,000. 

SANTA    CLARA   RIVER   AND    TRIBUTARIES 

The  work  to  be  done  on  the  Santa  Clara  River  and  its  tributaries  is  sho\vn  upon 
Plate  LIX,  which  is  a  map  of  this  territory.  Plate  No.  LX  shows  a  profile  and  cross  sections 
of  the  work  to  be  done.  On  the  Santa  Clara  River  in  Sections  20  and  21,  Township  4  North, 
Range  15  West,  S.  B.  B.  and  M.,  the  work  will  consist  of  either  a  single  or  double  row  of 
posts  with  brush   and  trash  either  against  or  between  them. 


—25— 

For  the  north  bank  of  the  Santa  Clara  River  beginning  at  a  point  about  1000  feet  west 
of  the  mouth  of  Bouquet  Canyon  and  running  thence  in  a  westerly  direction  for  a  distance 
of  4000  feet,  there  will  be  used  a  row  of  20-foot  piling  spaced  8  or  10  feet  apart  and 
driven  about  15  or  16  feet  into  the  ground  with  wire  placed  upon  them. 

Similar  protection  will  be  used  on  the  west  bank  of  Newhall  Creek  for  a  distance  of 
approximately  8100  feet,  south  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad. 

The  protection  work  for  Castaic  Creek  will  be  a  500-foot  extension  down-stream  of  the 
present  protection  Avoi'k  at  this  place,  and  will  be  of  the  same  type  as  that  used  upon  the 
Santa  Clara  River,  namely :    20-foot  piling  faced  with  wire. 

In  the  small  canyons  situated  in  the  headwaters  of  Newhall  Creek  there  will  be  expend- 
ed the  sum  of  .^2740  for  the  construction  of  check  dams  to  aid  in  the  retardation  of  the 
flood  waters  and  to  further  preserve  the  same  for  beneficial  use.  The  entire  cost  of  the 
work  on  the  Santa  Clara  River  and  its  tributaries  including  check  dams  is  $40,000.00. 

Following  is  a  general  description  of  the  lands,  rights  of  way,  easements  and  property 
proposed  to  be  taken,  acquired  or  injured  in  carrying  out  the  above  described  work : 

A  strip  of  land  150  feet  wide  beginning  at  a  point  on  the  south  line  of  Block  54,  St. 
Johns  Subdivision,  and  about  250  feet  west  of  the  southeasterly  corner  of  said  Block  54 ; 
running  thence  in  a  northerly  direction  nearly  parallel  to  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  and 
the  County  Boulevard  a  distance  of  approximately  8100  feet  to  the  bridge  on  the  Southern 
Pacific  Railroad ;  this  said  strip  of  laud  being  the  present  bed  or  channel  of  Newhall  Creek. 

A  strip  of  land  300  feet  wide  beginning  at  a  point  1000  feet  west  of  the  mouth  of  Bou- 
quet Canyon  and  extending  nearly  due  west  a  distance  of  4000  feet  and  being  the  present  ■ 
bed  of  the  Santa  Clara  River. 

A  strip  of  land  150  feet  wide  extending  through  Sections  20  and  21,  Township  4  North, 
Range  15  West,  S.  B.  B.  and  M.,  and  being  the  present  bed  of  the  Santa  Clara  River  through 
these  Sections. 

A  strip  of  land  150  feet  wide  beginning  at  a  point  at  the  east  end  of  the  present  protec- 
tion work  done  by  Los  Angeles  County,  and  extending  Avesterly  and  southerly  to  where 
the  Saugus  and  Ventura  Highway  crosses  said  stream  a  distance  of  about  4000  feet,  said 
strip  of  land  being  the  present  bed  or  channel  of  the  Castiac  Creek  ;  all  as  shown  on  Plate  LIX. 

Already  the  general  plan  of  the  protection  work  in  this  district  has  been  endorsed  in 
the  following  terms  by  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Saugus  and  the  Newhall  Improvement  Club : 

"We  heartily  approve  of  your  plan  for  flood  control  for  the  Santa  Clara  and  tributaries, 
and  we  promise  to  support  the  measure  to  our  fullest  extent. 

"We  appreciate  the  consideration  shown  this  district  and  when  the  matter  comes  up  for 
election,  we  will  do  our  share  towards  carrying  the  proposition. 

"(Signed)     SAUGUS  BOARD  OF  TRADE, 
Willis  M.  Baum,  Secretary  and  Treasurer." 

"AVe,  the  Newhall  Improvement  Club,  of  Newhall,  California,  heartily  endorse  your  at- 
tention and  appropriation  for  the  Santa  Clara  and  its  tributaries  which  are  very  destructive 
to  our  valley.  (Signed)     NEWHALL  IMPROVEMENT  CLUB, 

A.   C.  Swall." 

LITTLE  ROCK  CREEK  AND  BIG  ROCK  CREEK 

These  water  sheds  lie  upon  the  north  slope  of  the  San  Gabriel  Mountains,  and  discharge 
their  flood  waters  into  that  portion  of  Los  Angeles  County  lying  north  of  Los  Angeles  County 
Flood  Control  District.  Check  dams  to  the  cost  of  $10,000  will  be  constructed  in  the  small 
canyons  which  make  up  the  headwaters  of  Big  Rock  Creek,  and  to  the  cost  of  $10,000  in 
the  small  canyons  which  make  up  the  headwaters  of  Little  Rock  Creek.  These  works  will 
add  to  the  conservation  of  water  for  beneficial  use   of  the  settlements  of  Little  Rock   and 


—26— 

Llano.  The  cost  of  the  work  in  these  two  water  sheds  will  consist  almost  entirely  of  the 
outlay  for  labor,  which  can  be  furnished  locally.  The  total  amount  to  be  expended  on  these 
two  streams  is  $20,000. 

LOS  ANGELES  EIVER  AND  THE  TWO  TUJUNGAS 

The  waters  from  the  Big  and  Little  Tujunga  water  sheds  debouch  into  the  San  Fer- 
nando Valley  at  a  common  point,  for  a  short  distance  mingling  as  one  stream,  then  divid- 
ing, a  portion  flowing  to  the  left  and  toward  Burbank,  while  the  larger  portion  con- 
tinues southwesterly  toward  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  line  known  as  the  Valley  Line, 
where  it  passes  under  this  railroad  in  two  places,  forming  Avhat  is  known  locally  as  the  West 
Channel,  then  continuing  on  southward  a  distance  of  about  three  miles  toward  the  Southern 
Pacific  Railroad  line  Inown  as  the  Coast  Line;  but  before  this  second  line  of  railroad  is 
reached  the  waters  again  divide,  the  smaller  portion  again  going  to  the  left  or  to  the  east- 
wai'd,  forming  what  is  known  locally  as  the  Middle  Channel.  After  the  main  channel  passes 
the  Coast  Line  the  depression  through  which  it  flows  presents  the  characteristic  features  of 
a  small  valley  approximately  1500  feet  in  width,  and  12  to  15  feet  lower  than  the  side 
benches.  The  ground  or  physical  features  here  indicate  that  at  no  remote  period  the  waters 
of  the  Pacoima  Canyon  also  entered  this  little  valley  at  about  the  intersection  of  Twenty- 
second  Avenue  and  Twelfth  Street.  In  fact  some  of  the  remaining  early  settlers  of  Los 
Angeles  County  still  call  the  water  course  below  this  railroad  the  Pacoima  Wash. 

The  work  to  be  done  in  protecting  against  these  Tujunga  waters  is  the  effectual  repair 
of  the  present  rock  dike  or  levee  which  now  extends  from  the  Valley  Line  branch  of  the 
Southern  Pacific  Railroad  to  the  mouth  of  the  Tujunga  Canyons.  The  rock  dike  above  the 
■opening  to  the  east  will  be  repaired  l)y  the  continuing  of  the  present  standard  gauge  track 
to  the  spur  of  the  mountain  on  the  east  side.  Large  derrick  stone  of  one  to  two  tons 
weight  will  be  placed  upon  the  inner  or  water  side  of  the  levee.  This  class  of  construc- 
tion will  also  be  continued  southward  from  the  Valley  Line  branch  of  the  Southern  Pacific 
Railroad  to  the  Coast  Line  branch  and  upon  the  east  side  of  the  present  flood  zone,  a  dis- 
tance of  three  miles.  L'pon  the  west  or  right-hand  bank,  and  beginning  at  the  Valley  Line 
branch  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  about  a  mile  of  this  class  of  construction  will  be 
extended  northward.  A  low  earth  embankment,  averaging  3  to  4  feet  in  height,  will  first 
be  built  upon  which  to  place  a  standard  gauge  railroad  track  for  the  hauling  in  and  placing 
of  the  heavy  stones  upon  the  inner  or  water  side.  From  the  Coast  Line  branch  of  the  Southern 
Pacific  Railroad  southward  toward  the  Los  Angeles  River,  the  same  class  of  construction  will 
be  used  on  either  or  both  sides  of  the  Tujunga  Wash.  On  the  dangerous  bends  the  wash  will  be 
straightened  by  river  training,  using  a  double  row  of  piling  with  wire  on  the  stream  face,  and 
filled  in  lietween  with  brush  and  rock.     Plate  LVII  is  a  plan  of  the  work  to  be  done. 

A  general  description  of  the  right  of  way  or  easement  required  for  this  work  is:  A 
strii)  of  land  which  is  the  present  course  or  channel  of  the  flood  waters  of  these  canyons, 
beginning  at  a  point  on  Foothill  Avenue  about  700  feet  northerly  of  the  intersection  of 
Garfield  Avenue  and  Foothill  Avenue,  and  running  thence  in  a  southwesterly  direction  about 
1400  feet  to  a  point  on  Hayes  Avenue  about  300  feet  southwesterly  of  the  intersection 
of  Hayes  Avenue  and  Eleventh  Street ;  thence  in  a  southwesterly  direction  650  feet ;  thence  in  a 
southwest ei'ly  direction  a  distance  of  about  2  miles  to  a  point  on  the  Southern  Pacific  Rail- 
road a  distance  of  500  feet  easterly  from  Hayes  Avenue;  thence  continuing  in  a  south- 
westerly direction  about  2  miles  to  a  point  on  Twentieth  Street  about  260  feet  westerly  from 
Cleveland  Avenue;  continuing  thence  in  a  southwesterly  direction  a  distance  of  about  l^/i 
miles  to  the  Coast  Line  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  a  distance  of  about  800  feet  west- 
erly from  Cortez  Avenue ;  continuing  thence  in  a  southeasterly  direction  a  distance  of 
about  3  miles  to  a  point  on  Sherman  Way  about  200  feet  east  of  Diaz  Avenue; 
continuing  thence  in  the  same  southeasterly  direction  l^  mile  to  a  point  on  Fourth 
Street  aliout  500  feet  east  of  Diaz  Avenue;  thence  in  a  southerly  direction  2000  feet  to  a 


—27— 

point  about  700  feet  east  and  600  feet  north  of  the  intersection  of  Diaz  Avenue  and  Third 
Street;  thence  iu  an  easterly  direction  a  distance  of  2300  feet  to  a  point  on  Third  Street 
350  feet  east  of  Encino  Avenue;  thence  in  a  southeasterly  direction  a  distance  of  about  3800 
feet  to  a  point  on  Second  Street  460  feet  east  of  Paeoima  Avenue ;  thence  in  a  southeasterly 
direction  a  distance  of  1600  feet  to  a  point  about  680  feet  south  and  730  feet  west  of  the  in- 
tersection of  Second  Street  and  Eucalyptus  Avenue ;  thence  in  a  south-easterly  direction  to 
the  center  of  the  Los  Angeles  Kiver,  as  shown  by  Plate  LVII.  Profile  and  cross  ,6ections  are 
shown  on  Plate  LVIII. 

BetAveen  the  two  side  lines  of  the  proposed  protection,  the  width  varies  from  2,000  to 
3,000  feet.    The  amount  of  money  required  to  do  this  work  is  $270,000. 

The  work  to  be  done  upon  the  Los  Angeles  River  between  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Tujunga 
Wash  and  the  mouth  of  the  Arroyo  Seco,  will  consist  of  the  removal  of  brush  and  other  vege- 
table growth  from  the  present  channel  along  its  present  natural  meanderings.  The  cost  of 
this  work  will  be  $10,000.00. 

The  lands,  rights  of  way  and  easements  necessary  to  be  taken,  acquii'ed  or  injured  in 
the  prosecution  of  the  above  work  are  described  as  follows : 

The  right  of  way  for  the  Los  Angeles  River  with  a  varying  width  of  from  400  to  1000  feet 
begins  at  a  point  aboiit  900  feet  north  of  the  Los  Angeles  and  Ventura  County  Road  near 
Paeoima  Avenue  about  two  miles  southwesterly  of  Lankershim.  continues  in  a  general  easterly 
direction  and  north  of  the  Los  Angeles  and  Venture  County  Road  through  the  City  of  Burbank 
following  the  general  meanderings  of  the  stream  through  Sections  22,  23,  24  and  27  to  Griffith 
Park  near  Crescent  Street  and  Sonoma  Avenue,  thence  southeasterly  and  north  and  east  of 
Griffith  Park  and  Reservation  to  a  point  about  600  feet  west  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Rail- 
road and  about  1000  feet  north  from  where  Verdugo  Wash  reaches  the  river,  thence  south- 
erly along  Griffith  Reservation  to  the  Pacific  Electric  Railway  Trestle  just  east  of  Woodstock 
Avenue  and  Los  Feliz  Road  Crossing,  thence  easterly  about  %  of  a  mile  through  the  Le  Brun 
tract  to  the  rock  levee  west  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  thence  south-easterly  a  dis- 
tance of  about  one  mile  to  a  point  about  1000  feet  south  of  the  old  city  boundary  of  Los 
Angeles,  thence  easterly  about  one-third  of  a  mile  to  the  Scdalia  Villa  tract,  thence  south- 
easterly about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  to  the  Southern  Pacific  bridge  across  Los  Angeles  River 
just  north  of  Baxter  Street  at  Elysian  Park,  near  the  point  where  Arroyo  Seco  reaches  the 
Los  Angeles  River,  and  as  more  particularly  shown  upon  Plate  LXI.  Profile  and  cross  sec- 
tion are  shown  on  Plate  LXII. 

The  total  cost  of  the  work  on  the  Los  Angeles  River  and  the  two  Tujungas  will  be 
$280,000.00.         ^ 

SAN  GABRIEL  VALLEY 

Many  people  have  come  into  my  office  and  stated  that  the  amount  of  water  flowing  in 
the  various  channels  of  the  County  is  continuousl.v  on  the  increase,  and  asked  me  to  give 
them  an  explanation  of  the  fact.  The  majority  of  them  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  increased 
runoff  in  their  particular  locality  is  caused  by  the  diversion  of  waters  by  their  neighbors 
higher  up.  Unfortunately  in  some  instances  this  is  the  case,  but  in  the  great  majority  of 
cases  the  increased  runoff  is  due  to  perfectly  natural  causes.  The  main  one  of  which  is  the 
increase  of  impervious  surface  due  to  the  construction  of  roads  and  buildings,  and  the  in- 
creased runoff  due  to  the  cultivation  of  the  fields.  I  have  shown  on  Plate  LI  the  outline  of 
a  square  mile  of  virgin  territory  of  this  County  when  it  is  covered  by  grass  or  shrubbery, 
later  by  grain  and  alfalfa,  and  still  later  by  highly  improved  fanns. 

When  the  first  graded  road  was  placed  around  the  section  1.88%  of  the  total  area  of 
the  section  was  thrown  into  the  road,  which  necessarily  was  a  hard,  graded,  rather  imper- 
vious surface,  causing  a  quickened  runoff.  When  the  section  was  quartered,  nearly  4%  of 
its  area  went  into  roads  which  as  a  rule  were  tven  more  impervious.  When  the  section 
reached  the  10  acre  size  15%  of  such  area  went  into  such  surface.  When  it  reached  the 
21/^  acre  size,  28%  of  the  original  area  becomes  streets  and  roads.     These  streets  are  usually 


—28^ 

oiled  macadam  and  absolutely  impervious,  with  the  result  that  from  28%  of  the  land  we  get 
immediate,  precipitous  runoff. 

This  is  not  the  only  cause  of  accelerating  flood  waters.  The  former  native  vegetation, 
which  was  a  retarding  or  mulching  agent  has  been  removed  and  in  most  eases  the  land  care- 
fully graded  down,  either  for  high  class  tillage,  orchard  cultivation,  or  beautiful  homes, 
while  barns  and  sheds  have  been  built  until  there  is  practically  no  retention  of  the  rain 
water  upon  the  area  within  the  streets  and  boulevards.  These  are  the  reasons  for  the  hurried 
runoff  and  the  appearance  in  almost  every  locality  each  year  of  more  flood  waters  than  ever 
before.  I  have  letters  from  many  old  settlers  of  the  San  Gabriel  Valley  who  say  that  one 
inch  of  rain  at  the  present  time  produces  more  nmoff  than  three  inches  did  thirty  years  ago, 
and  I  am  quite  convinced  that  their  statement  is  not  only  conservative  now,  but  that  the 
storm  runoff  has  not  yet  reached  its  maximum. 

The  inconvenience  of  having  the  roadside  ditches  and  other  smaller  water  courses  filled 
with  detritus  after  every  storm  is  brought  about  in  some  degree  by  the  improper  cultivation 
of  the  foothill  slopes.  These  slopes,  where  the  cultivation  runs  up  and  down,  or  normal,  with 
the  slope,  and  which  are  not  given  a  winter  cover  crop  to  hold  the  soil,  continue  to  denude 
themselves  of  their  fertility,  and  deposit  it  in  the  stream  courses  and  gutters  below,  to  the 
injury  of  the  property  owners  lower  down.  These  slopes  which  annually  lose  their  fertility 
by  denudation  but  a  few  years  ago  were  covered  with  vegetation  and  grass  which  held  these 
soils,  which  the  land  owner  now  is  losing  with  every  rain  storm. 

Both  the  Harbor  Engineers  and  the  United  States  Engineers  assure  me  that  the  greater 
part  of  the  silt  which  is  deposited  in  the  Harbor  comes  from  only  a  few  miles  inland,  and 
is  of  the  finer  quality  which  makes  up  the  rich  loam  of  the  lower  valley. 

A  careful  analysis  has  been  made  of  some  of  the  silt  removed  from  the  Harbor,  and  it 
has  been  found  to  consist  very  largely  of  silt  similar  to  that  found  from  five  to  ten  miles  back 
from  the  ocean  front  and  not  to  be  made  up  of  the  silts  that  are  washed  down  from  mountain 
slopes. 

Plates  LII,  Lin  and  LIV  are  presented  to  you  to  illustrate  another  form  of  study. 
These  three  plates  which  are  taken  at  random  from  our  maps,  show  the  overflow  or  denuded 
area  along  washes  in  this  valley.  The  heavy  parallel  black  lines  show  narrow  conduits  and 
protection  walls  which  the  owners  have  desired  the  storm  waters  to  pass  through,  the  sanded 
areas,  with  the  figures  enclosed  in  circles  along  their  edges,  show  something  of  the  size  that 
Nature  demonstrates  she  must  have  for  storms  during  flood  times.  In  other  words,  it  shows 
the  f utilit.y  of  man  trying  to  resist  Nature.  These  great  devastating  floods  do  not  come  annually ; 
sometimes  they  are  many  years  apart,  but  Avhen  they  do  come  they  are  no  respecters  of 
man's  idea  of  small  channels. 

It  has  been  the  effort  of  this  department  in  securing  easements  for  official  channels  to 
prevail  upon  the  property  owners  and  to  show  them  the  necessity  and  propriety  of  giving 
to  the  County  at  once  for  improvement  as  much  area  as  that  stream  itself  demands  it  must 
have  for  a  channel.  The  small  figures  placed  in  the  circles  at  the  margin  of  these  sanded 
areas,  show  the  depths  of  the  channels  or  the  heights  of  the  new  banks  made  by  the  very 
last  storm,  February  18,  1916.  I  have  given  these  reasons  to  the  adjacent  land  owners  why 
they  should  give  us  easements  for  wide  areas ;  first :  that  sufficient  area  might  be  provided 
where  the  stream  in  flood  may  have  an  opportunity  to  drop  its  detrital  load  upon  such  slopes  and 
in  a  manner  which  it  knows  better  than  man  and  insists  upon  following;  secondly  that  a 
large  area  may  ))e  supplied  for  absorbtion  and  percolation  of  the  flood  waters  for  the  replen- 
ishment of  the  underground  water  supply;  and  third  that  the  owner  may  be  protected 
against  going  again  into  these  washes  and  improving  them  to  again  lose  the  fruits  of  his  labor, 
or  that  an  innocent  buyer  in  the  future  may  not  be  persuaded  to  purchase  property  during 
dry  years  in  these  dangerous  localities 

The   discussion   of   tlie    three   foregoing   phases  should  not  be  taken  as  a  criticism,  but 


—29— 

as  an  appeal  for  a  better  understanding  of  some  misunderstood  conditions,  and  for  pulling 
together  and  helping  to  bear  each  others'  burdens. 

SAN  GABRIEL  CONE 

That  portion  of  the  San  Gabriel  Eiver  where  it  emerges  from  the  mountains  down  to  a 
point  near  the  center  of  Section  6,  T.  1  S,  R.  II  W.,  a  distance  of  over  5  miles,  is  shown  on 
Plate  XLII.  Plate  XLIII  shows  cross  section  and  profile  of  this  section  of  the  river.  The 
work  required  is  the  excavation  of  a  channel  400  feet  wide  and  4  feet  deep  to  form  a  minor  or 
interior  channel.  The  material  from  this  excavated  channel  is  to  be  placed  in  levees  upon  either 
side  of  the  channel,  and  at  a  distance  varying  from  600  feet  to%  of  a  mile,  as  shown  upon  the 
Plate.  This  boulder  material  is  to  form  levees  which  will  be  12  feet  wide  on  top,  the  slope 
on  the  water  side  will  be  3  horizontal  to  1  vertical,  and  upon  the  back  or  land  side  will  be  II/2 
horizontal  to  1  vertical ;  the  elevation  of  the  tops  of  these  levees  to  be  18  feet  above  the  bottom 
of  the  minor  or  interior  channel.  This  minor  channel  will  provide  for  the  carrying  of  ordinary 
floods,  say  up  to  20,000  second  feet,  while  when  the  great  floods  of  40,000  or  50,000  cubic  feet 
per  second  come,  the  entire  area  between  levees  amounting  to  2,500  acres  will  be  flooded,  there- 
by providing  a  large  spreading  ground.  This  design  of  a  minor  and  major  channel  will  have  a 
tendency  to  hold  the  principal  thread  of  the  main  current  near  the  center  of  the  minor  or  deeper 
channel,  and  thereby  reduce  the  velocities  near  the  levees,  on  the  whole  having  a  tendency  to 
arrest  velocity  and  precipitate  the  detritus,  and  to  cause  as  much  of  the  flow  as  possible  to 
percolate  and  reach  the  artesian  water  through  the  coarse  materials  at  the  head  of  the  valley. 
Plate  XLII  shows  where  the  waters  are  to  be  equally  divided,  one-half  of  the  water  flowing 
down  the  East  Sau  Galiriel  River  channel  o  Alamitos  Bay.  and  one  half  down  the  West 
San  Gabriel  River  or  Rio  Hondo  channel  to  the  ocean  via  Dominguez.  To  make  the  mat- 
ter plain  and  distinct,  the  division  is  to  be  50-50 :  50%  to  the  eastward  and  50%  to  the  west- 
ward ;  and  from  this  point  of  division  down  to  the  end  of  the  two  branch  channels,  the  same 
manner  of  treatment  in  the  way  of  channels  and  embankments  or  side  levees  is  to  be  built  as 
is  shown  above  the  point  of  division. 

The  distances  at  which  the  side  levees  or  embankments  are  to  be  placed  from  the  interior 
channel  are  shown  upon  the  map.  It  should  now  be  distinctly  understood  that  the  plan  of  the 
channel  here  outlined,  and  for  that  matter,  any  other  channel  in  a  detrital  country,  will  re- 
quire examination  and  correction  after  every  flood.  Great  floods  coming  out  of  the  San  Gabriel 
Canyon  always,  when  at  peak,  bring  great  loads  of  detrital  matter  which  are  dropped  by  a 
very  sensitive  natural  law  as  the  velocity  or  carrying  power  of  the  stream  weakens  with  every 
slight  reduction  of  the  gradient,  and  a  heavy  part  may  be  dropped  by  one  storm  a  short 
distance  down  this  very  large  channel,  while  the  next  flood  wave  being  larger  or  smaller,  may 
drop  its  load  farther  down,  or  higher  up.  This  condition  must  be  watched  with  a  vigilant  eye 
and  removed  so  thoroughly  after  each  storm  as  to  bring  both  the  minor  or  interior  channel, 
and  the  larger  or  major  channel  to  a  carrying  capacity.  If  this  maintenance  is  neglected  disas- 
ter will  follow. 

Following  is  a  general  description  of  the  land,  easements  and  rights  of  way  and  property  to 
be  acquired  or  injured  on  the  work  of  the  San  Gabriel  Cone. 

A  strip  of  land  varying  in  width  from  1600  feet  to  more  than  a  mile,  beginning  at  a  point 
where  the  San  Gabriel  River  emerges  from  its  canyon  northerly  of  the  City  of  Azusa,  thence  in 
a  general  southerly  direction  to  a  point  approximately  1000  feet  north  and  500  feet  east  of  the 
intersection  of  Monroe  Street  and  Michigan  Avenue  in  Chicago  Park,  at  which  point  the  San 
Gabriel  divides  into  two  streams,  one  of  whose  branches  (Lexington  Wash)  may  be  described  as 
a  channel  varying  in  width  from  2720  feet  to  760  feet  at  the  Peck  Road  and  Clark  Street  in 
said  Chicago  Park.  The  other  branch  of  which  may  be  described  as  a  channel  varying  in  width 
from  3360  feet  at  the  bifurcation  of  said  streams  to  a  width  of  1680  feet  at  the  crossing  of  the 
Pacific  Electric  track  just  northeasterly  of  the  Cogswell  tract,  all  of  which  is  more  fully  shown 
upon  Plate  XLII. 

The  amount  of  money  required  for  the  work  on  this  section  is  $350,000.00. 


—SO- 
EAST  SAN  GABRIEL  RIVER  BELOW  BASSETT  BRIDGE 

The  right  of  way  necessary  for  the  San  Gabriel  River  is  sho\\Ti  between  the  red  lines  upon 
Plate  XLIV.  The  profile  is  shown  on  Plate  XLV.  The  river  will  follow  its  present  course  in 
general,  except  where  as  is  shown  on  the  map,  the  large  bends  will  cut.  From  the  Bassett  Bridge 
approximately  to  the  crossing  of  the  Salt  Lake  Railway  the  treatment  of  this  river  will  con- 
sist of  training  works,  utilizing  a  double  row  of  piling  faced  with  wire  with  brush  between. 
From  the  crossing  of  the  Salt  Lake  Railway  to  the  Pacific  Electric  bridge  just  east  of  Rivera 
tlie  channel  is  in  fair  shape.  It  is  recognized  by  this  office  that  the  trees  growing  along  the  sides 
of  River  channels  are  of  inestimable  benefit  in  keeping  the  water  within  bounds.  For  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  south  of  the  Pacific  Electric  bridge  just  east  of  Rivera  the  river  is  in  bad  shape, 
threatening  to  leave  its  old  channel  and  depart  across  country  to  the  eastward.  Here  it  will  be 
necessary  to  drive  a  double  row  of  piling  behind  which  a  strip  of  willows  and  brush  will  be 
grown.  From  this  point,  with  a  slight  amount  of  work  the  river  will  be  placed  in  good  condi- 
tion to  a  point  approximately  half  a  mile  above  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  bridge  at  Stude- 
baker.  At  this  point,  a  training  dike  will  be  built  causing  the  river  to  cut  the  east  bank  and 
straighten  itself,  passing  down  through  the  span  at  the  east  end  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Rail- 
road bridge  at  Studebaker,  and  thence  into  the  channel  owned  by  the  New  San  Gabriel  Levee 
Protection  District.  From  this  point  to  tide  water  it  will  be  necessary  to  widen  the  present  chan- 
nel and  to  raise  the  levees  along  the  sides  of  the  bank  in  order  to  keep  the  water  within  its  pres- 
ent confines. 

The  following  is  a  general  description  of  the  lands,  rights  of  way,  easements  and  property 
proposed  to  be  taken,  acquired  or  injured  in  the  construction  of  the  San  Gabriel  River  channel 
below  the  Bassett  Bridge : 

A  strip  of  land  500  feet  wide  described  as  follows :  Beginning  at  a  point  on  the  Pomona 
Boulevard  approximately  1700  feet  west  of  Covina  Boulevard  at  Bassett;  thence  in  a  general 
southerly  direction  following  the  meanderings  of  the  East  San  Gabriel  River  crossing  the  Whit- 
tier  Road  approximately  2000  feet  east  of  the  Lexington  and  Gallatin  Road,  and  continuing  in 
a  general  southerly  direction  to  a  point  api^roximately  2200  feet  east  of  said  Lexington  and 
Gallatin  Road  on  the  Rivera  and  Los  Nietos  Road;  continuing  thence  in  a  general  southerly 
direction  following  the  meanderings  of  the  San  Gabriel  River,  and  crossing  the  Norwalk  and 
Orange  County  Line  Road  approximately  1900  feet  easterly  of  the  intersection  of  the  New 
River  School  House  Road  and  the  Washburn  Crossing  Road;  and  continuing  thence  in  a  gen- 
eral southerly  direction  along  the  right  of  way  of  the  New  San  Gabriel  River  Protection  Dis- 
trict to  the  sea  at  Alamitos  Bay,  all  as  more  fully  shown  upon  Plate  No.  XLIV. 

The  cost  of  this  work  is  estimated  at  :|<1 50.000.00. 

RIO  HONDO  OR  WEST  SAN  GABRIEL 

The  Rio  Hondo,  which  is  a  bifurcation  of  the  San  Gabriel  River  just  above  El  Monte,  pre- 
sents a  good  opportunity  for  river  training.  Plate  XLVI  is  a  map  and  Plate  XLVII  a  profile 
of  the  Kio  Hondo  from  El  ^Monte  to  the  Los  Angeles  River. 

The  channel  of  this  stream  should  be  straightened  as  much  as  possible,  confining  it  within 
its  present  banks,  and  in  certain  places  making  small  cuts  across  points. 

The  methods  of  handling  this  wash  will  be  to  construct  training  dikes  to  hold  the  water 
within  the  right  of  way  shown  between  the  two  red  lines  on  Plate  XLVI.  It  is  thought  that 
tlic  l)est  way  to  handle  this  wash  is  to  utilize  the  power  of  the  flowing  stream  and  cause  it  to 
make  the  necessary  cuts,  depositing  the  material  in  the  bends  below.  By  this  method  of  treat- 
ment it  is  hoped  that  in  a  comparatively  few  years  much  of  the  devastated  area  can  be  re- 
rlaiiiicd  and  put  to  beneficial  use.  From  a  point  just  above  the  Mission  Bridge  to  the  Foster 
Bridge  the  Rio  Hondo  flows  along  a  high,  hard  mesa  lying  to  the  west,  and  it  will  be  necessary 
along  this  stretch  of  the  river  to  take  care  of  the  east  bank  only. 

From  the  Foster  Bridge  to  just  above  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  (Santa  Ana  Branch) 
till' Rio  Hondo  is  within  the  limits  of  the  San  Antcnio  Protection  District.  The  piling  and  the 
I'ank  protection  work  done  l)y  this  District  over  this  stretch  of  the  river  are  adequate  for  present 


o± 

needs.  From  where  the  Rio  Hondo  breaks  out  of  the  right  of  way  of  the  San  Antonio  Protec- 
tion District  to  the  Los  Angeles  River,  bank  protection  is  to  be  placed  adequate  to  preclude  a 
break  similar  to  that  of  1914.  This  river  training  is  to  be  accomplished  by  the  construction 
of  a  double  row  of  piling  faced  with  wire  and  filled  with  brush. 

The  following  is  a  general  description  of  the  lands,  rights  of  way,  easements  and  property 
proposed  to  be  taken,  acquired  or  injured  in  the  construction  of  the  East  San  Gabriel  River 
channel  below  the  Bassett  Bridge: 

A  strip  of  land  500  feet  wide  beginning  at  a  point  in  the  Peck  Road  approximately  3250 
feet  southerly  of  the  intersection  of  Peck  Road  and  the  Dalton  County  Road ;  thence  following 
the  general  meanderings  of  the  Lexington  Wash  (Rio  Hondo  or  West  San  Gabriel  River)  in  a 
southerly  direction  to  a  point  approximately  1000  feet  northerly  of  the  north  line  of  the  King 
Tract,  in  the  City  of  El  Monte. 

A  strip  of  land  of  varying  width  extending  from  said  last  mentioned  point  in  a  general 
southerly  and  southwesterly  direction  following  in  a  general  manner  the  course  of  the  Lexing- 
ton Wash  to  the  southerly  line  of  land  now  owned  by  tlie  Huntington  Land  &  Development 
Company. 

A  strip  of  land  500  feet  wide  beginning  at  said  last  mentioned  point  and  going  in  a  general 
southeasterly  and  southerly  direction  following  the  general  course  of  the  Lexington  AVash 
passing  under  the  Valley  Road  at  the  westerly  end  of  the  Mission  Bridge,  and  continuing  thence 
in  a  general  southwesterly  direction  and  passing  under  the  Whittier  Road  approximately  1000 
feet  easterly  of  First  Street,  in  the  town  of  Newmark  (Montebello)  ;  thence  continuing  in  a  gen- 
eral southwesterly  direction  under  the  high  bluff  on  the  west  and  crossing  under  the  Anaheim 
Telegraph  Road  at  a  point  1500  feet  northwesterly  of  the  Telegraph  and  Jaboneria  Road ;  con- 
tinuing thence  in  a  southwesterly  direction  to  the  southerly  corner  of  the  Gage  Home  Place  and 
passing  under  Foster  Bridge ;  thence  continuing  in  a  general  southwesterly  direction  along  the 
right  of  way  of  the  San  Antonio  Protection  District  to  the  first  curve  above  the  Southern  Pa- 
cific Railroad ;  thence  leaving  the  right  of  way  of  the  San  Antonio  Protection  District  approx- 
imately at  the  northeasterly  corner  of  the  land  now  owned  by  the  Grant  Brothers  Construction 
Company,  and  continuing  in  a  southwesterly  direction  to  junction  with  the  Los  Angeles  River 
just  northerly  of  the  Alexander  Gunn  Tract  No.  2,  all  as  more  fully  sliown  upon  Plate  No. 
XL  VI. 

The  estimated  cost  of  the  work  is  $125,000.00. 

LOS  ANGELES  RIVER,  SOUTH  CITY  LIMITS  TO  DOMINGUEZ 

The  green  coloring  upon  Plate  XL VIII  shows  the  channel  followed  by  the  last  flood  to 
have  a  course  generally  within  this  right  of  way,  which  is  suggestive  in  itself  that  the  posi- 
tion of  the  official  channel  to  be  acquired  is  in  the  lowest  part  of  the  Los  Angeles  Valley. 
The  river  may  not  only  be  trained  to  remain  within  the  limits  of  this  right  of  way,  but  its 
own  force  may  be  used  to  straighten  the  channel. 

It  is  a  well  kno^vn  observation  that  the  Los  Angeles  River  in  the  lower  valley  never  has 
cut  a  channel  for  itself  deeper  than  a  few  feet  and  a  study  of  the  cause  of  the  river's  refusal 
to  go  down  or  deepen  its  channel  was  made  during  the  flood  season  of  the  past  two  years. 
It  was  discovered  that  the  bottom  of  the  water  in  the  channel  was  always  coincident  or 
level  with  the  plane  of  the  ground  water  in  the  valley,  which  in  the  rainy  season,  ranges 
about  four  feet  below  the  surface.  The  material,  both  above  and  below  the  water  plane, 
being  silt,  the  river  cannot  scour  itself  below  this  great  plane  of  ground  water,  the  silt 
material  refusing  to  stand  above  it. 

Should  ample  means  be  provided  in  the  future  for  the  straightening  of  the  river  chan- 
nel, by  placing  a  railroad  track  on  each  bank  for  the  depositing  of  heavy  riprap  to  hold  the 
banks,  I  have  no  hesitancy  in  saying  that  the  river  then  would  deepen  its  channel  much 
below  the  surface  of  the  plane  of  the  present  ground  water,  and  instead  of  having  a  mean- 
dering delta  stream,  a  deepened  stream  channel  would  result. 

Plate  XLVIII  is  a  map,  and  Plate  XLIX  a  profile  of  the  proposed  channel  of  the  Los 


—32— 

Angeles  River  from  the  Los  Angeles  City  limits  southward  to  the  ocean.  The  right  of  way 
necessary  is  shown  between  two  red  lines,  and  varies  in  width  from  300  feet  where  it  leaves 
the  city  to  800  feet  further  down.  Free  easements  for  about  three  and  one-half  miles  of 
this  right  of  way  are  now  in  my  hands.  In  general,  the  work  to  be  done  on  the  Los  Angeles 
River  will  consist  of  driving  a  double  row  of  piles  faced  with  hog  Avire,  with  brush  between. 
The  method  to  be  pursued  in  handling  this  river  is  river  training,  which  will  consist  of 
building  dikes  in  the  above  described  manner  at  the  various  bad  bends,  causing  the  river  to 
straighten  its  present  tortuous  channel,  and  confining  it  within  a  definite  and  fixed  channel, 
protecting  the  land  on  either  side. 

The  following  is  a  general  description  of  the  lands,  rights  of  way,  easements  and  prop- 
erty proposed  to  be  taken,  acquired  or  injured  in  the  construction  of  the  Los  Angeles  River 
channel. 

A  strip  of  land  varying  in  width  described  as  follows : 

Beginning  at  the  intersection  of  the  present  bed  of  the  Los  Angeles  River  with  the  south- 
erly boundary  of  the  City  of  Los  Angeles,  thence  following  the  present  course  of  the  Los  An- 
geles River  in  a  general  southerly  and  easterly  direction  to  a  point  approximately  1400  feet 
east  of  the  intersection  of  Downey  Road  and  Vernon  Avenue. 

A  strip  of  land  500  feet  wide  beginning  at  said  last  mentioned  point,  and  following  the 
present  course  of  the  Los  Angeles  River  in  a  general  easterly  and  southerly  direction  and 
crossing  the  Laguna  Road  approximately  1000  feet  easterly  of  Baker  Street,  and  continu- 
ing from  thence  in  a  general  southerly  direction  to  the  junction  of  the  Los  Angeles  River  and 
the  Rio  Hondo  near  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Alexander  Gunn  Tract  No.  2. 

A  strip  of  land  800  feet  wide  beginning  at  said  last  mentioned  point  and  extending  in 
a  general  southerly  direction,  following  in  a  general  way  the  course  of  the  Los  Angeles 
River,  crossing  Washington  Street  about  900  feet  easterly  of  Gibson  Street  and  continuing 
southerly  along  the  present  channel  of  the  Los  Angeles  River  to  the  Cerritos  trestle  on  the 
Pacific  Electric  Railway  track  near  the  easterly  end  of  Carson  Street;  all  as  shown  on  Plate 
XLVIII. 

The  total  cost  of  this  work  is  $350,000.00. 

LOS  ANGELES  AND  LONG  BEACH  HARBOR  PROTECTION 

For  the  protection  of  the  Los  Angeles  and  Long  Beach  Harbors  from  the  storm  and 
flood  waters  of  the  Los  Angeles  and  San  Gabriel  Rivers  and  the  Rio  Hondo,  said  waters  are 
to  be  brought  to  the  sea  between  Long  Beach  Harbor  and  the  residential  portion  of  the 
City  of  Long  Beach.  This  is  to  be  accomplished  by  the  construction  of  a  dike  parallel  to 
and  northerly  of  the  Pacific  Electric  Railway  tracks,  and  extending  south-easterly  from  the 
high  land  of  Dominguez  Hill,  causing  all  the  waters,  of  said  streams  to  flow  to  the  location 
of  the  present  Pacific  Electric  bridge  over  the  Los  Angeles  River,  locally  known  as  Cerritos 
Trestle,  and  by  the  construction  of  parallel  levees  confining  the  said  waters  in  their  course 
from  said  bridge  in  a  straight  channel  extending  almost  due  south  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  at 
a  point  between  Parker  and  Wabash  Avenues  in  the  City  of  Long  Beach.  The  plan  of 
this  work  is  shown  on  Plate  XLVIII;  a  profile  and  cross  section  of  the  proposed  channel  is 
shown  upon  Plate  XLIX. 

The  lands,  easements,  rights  of  way  and  properties  to  be  acquired  or  injured  in  carrying 
out  this  portion  of  the  work  may  be  generally  described  as  follows: 

A  strip  of  land  200  feet  wide,  beginning  at  the  crossing  of  the  Pacific  Electric  Railway 
Long  Beach  Branch  and  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  on  the  lands  of  R.  G.  S. 
Dominguez;  thence  in  a  general  south-easterly  direction  along  the  north-easterly  side  of  the 
right  of  way  of  said  Pacific  Electric  Railway  to  the  Cerritos  trestle  crossing  the  Los  An- 
geles River. 

A  strip  of  land  varying  in  width  from  720  to  1000  feet  from  said  last  mentioned  point 
to  Wilmington  Street  Extension,  said  point  being  westerly  of  the  Pacific  Electric  Railway, 
approximately  1700  feet. 


—33— 

A  strip  of  land  720  feet  wide,  beginning  at  said  last  mentioned  point  and  following  in 
a  general  soutlierly  direction  the  present  course  of  the  Los  Angeles  River  to  the  intersection 
of  Ayres  Avenue  and  Anaheim  Street. 

A  strip  of  land  600  feet  wide  extending  from  said  last  mentioned  point  southerly 
along  the  present  course  of  the  Los  Angeles  River  to  approximately  Crescent  Street,  thence 
continuing  in  a  general  southerly  direction  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  approximately  at  the  foot 
of  Morgan  Avenue  in  the  City  of  Long  Beach ;  all  of  which  said  right  of  way  is  more  fully 
shown  upon  Plate  XL VIII. 

The  right  of  way  above  described  for  the  Los  Angeles  River  channel  from  Cerritos 
trestle  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  from  the  proposed  dike  is  to  be  acquired  by  the  District. 
The  District  is  also  to  construct  the  necessary  roads  and  bridges,  to  adjust  all  damage 
claims  and  to  maintain  the  works  after  construction.  The  construction  work  itself  is  not 
provided  for  in  this  report,  for  the  reason  that  it  will  undoubtedly  be  undertaken  by  the 
United  States  Government.  The  sum  of  $1,080,000  has  been  provided  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment and  of  this  amount  $500,000  has  already  been  made  available  by  Congress  to  be  ex- 
pended for  the  protection  of  the  two  harbors  concerned.  This  item  was  included  in  the  River 
and  Harbor  Bill  adopted  by  the  U.  S.  Congress  and  approved  July  27,  1916.  By  such  Act, 
however,  the  work  is  to  be  done  in  accordance  with  the  report  of  the  U.  S.  Army  Engineers, 
printed  in  House  Document  No.  462,  64th  Congress,  1st  Session,  approving  the  so-called 
plan  "D"  for  the  diversion  of  the  waters  approaching  the  harbors  by  constructing  a  dam 
from  Dominguez  Hill  to  the  high  land  at  Los  Cerritos,  and  a  channel  thence  to  the  sea  at 
Alamitos  Bay  hereinafter  referred  to  as  the  tentative  route.  The  modified  route  proposed 
in  this  report  has  the  personal  recommendation  of  the  U.  S.  District  Engineer  in  charge 
of  Government  work  at  the  Los  Angeles  Harbor,  and  will  undoubtedly  be  approved  by  the 
Federal  Government.  The  city  officials  of  Los  Angeles  and  Long  Beach  have  concurred  in 
this  change  of  route. 

The  points  in  favor  of  the  modified  route  I  have  proposed  are  as  follows : 

1.  Its  diversion  dike  will  be  only  about  50%  of  the  length  of  the  dike  necessary 
upon  the  tentative  route. 

2.  Its  channel  to  the  ocean  will  be  but  60%  as  long  as  the  channel  by  the  tentative 
route. 

3.  Its  slope  or  gradient  will  be  nearly  8  feet  per  mile,  which  is  almost  double  that  of 
the  tentative  route. 

4.  It  is  almost  free  from  curves. 

5.  It  will  permit  the  keeping  of  the  waters  of  the  Los  Angeles  and  West  San  Gabriel 
Rivers  entirely  within  their  own  valleys,  and  thereby  avoid  litigation  by  owners  of  the  lands 
upon  the  east  side,  who  say  they  will  resist  legally  the  turning  of  these  waters  out  of  their 
own  valleys. 

6.  There  will  be  no  arresting  of  the  flood  waters,  or  the  tendency  for  the  formation  of  a 
lake  upon  its  oblique  dike,  as  in  the  case  of  the  dike  upon  the  tentative  route. 

7.  In  the  matter  of  the  construction  of  either  route  the  construction  would  necessarily 
begin  at  the  ocean  and  the  efficiency  of  the  diversion  by  the  way  of  the  tentative  route  would 
not  be  complete  until  the  whole  ten  miles  of  the  channel  and  dikes  were  consti'uctcd, 
while  upon  the  modified  route  after  the  woi'k  begun  at  the  ocean  would  have  advanced  but 
four  miles  inland,  it  would  even  then  be  in  a  position  to  carry  a  large  flood  from  the  harbor. 

8.  The  cost  of  the  right  of  way  will  be  less  than  by  the  tentative  route. 

9.  The  cost  of  the  bridges  will  be  less. 

10.  The  possibility  of  litigation  with  the  Palos  Verdes  Syndicate  about  the  riparian 
rights,  with  which  they  allege  the  Dominguez  Dike  will  interfere,  will  be  entirely  elim- 
inated by  the  modified  route. 

11.  It  should  be  plain  from  paragi'aphs  3  and  4  that  the  shorter  and  straighter  channel, 
and  one  with  double  the  fall,  would  be  a  less  expensive  one  to  maintain. 


—34— 

12.  The  two  parallel  wide  levees  from  the  Cerritos  trestle  to  Long  Beach  industrial 
district  will  have  valuable  rental  or  sale  values  from  the  District  to  the  railroads  entering 
the  industrial  district  of  both  Los  Angeles  and  Long  Beach  Harbors. 

It  is  expected  that  the  same  conditions  will  again  be  exacted  by  the  United  States  with 
regard  to  co-operation  of  the  district  namely,  that  the  necessary  rights  of  way  be  provided, 
costs  of  necessary  roads  and  bridges  be  met,  all  damage  claims  be  adjusted  and  improvements 
be  maintained  after  completion,  by  the  District. 

It  is  confidently  expected  that  the  U.  S.  Government  will  undertake  the  construction 
work  via  modified  route  for  the  protection  of  the  harbor,  and  no  money  is  provided  for 
construction  in  this  section  of  the  work. 

The  specifications  for  the  highway  bridges  shall  conform  to  the  standard  practice  of 
Los  Angeles  County. 

The  cost  of  bridges  is  $308,900,  and  for  rights  of  way  aiid  damages  and  maintenance 
$864,100.     A  total  cost  for  harbor  protection  of  $1,173,000.00. 

This  Keport  also  contains  electrotypic  reproduction  of  extracted  maps  from  the  latest 
reports  relative  to  the  control  of  floods  in  Switzerland,  Austria  and  France,  showing  the 
Swiss  methods  of  confining  and  leveeing  tlieir  detrital  streams  at  their  deltas,  along  with  their 
use  of  heavy  riprap.  Photographs  are  also  taken  from  Swiss  reports  showing  scenes  of  recent 
canyon  devastation  in  those  countries.  These  scenes  appear  almost  identical  with  those  which 
may  be  found  in  many  places  along  the  foothills  in  this  district.  Numerous  photographs 
showing  common  flood  conditions  in  this  district  are  also  inserted. 


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SUMMARY    OF    ESTIMATES 


tfCSE  IIBRARY 


Harl)or  Protection  for  Los  Angeles  and  Long  Rftaeh  Harbors  (Including  Work  at 

Dominguez)    $1,173,000.0(, 

Los  Angeles  River  (South  City  Limits  to  Domnguez)  350,000.00 

Los  Angeles  River  and  the  Two  Tujunga  Ri\ers  280,000.00 

Devil's  Gate  Dam  and  Arroyo  Seco  Work _.. 290,000.00 

Pacoima  River  (including  Hutchin's  Flood  Control  Reservoir)  359,460.00 

Verdugo  Wash,  Glendale  and  Vicinity 99,800.00 

Sycamore  Canyon,  Glendale  and  Tropico  Work 28,925.00 

Gardena  Valley  and  Nigger  Slough 56,590.00 

Ballona  Creek  (West  Los  Angeles  and  Venice) 80,875.00 

Compton  Creek  20,000.00 

Pa.sadena  and  Altadena  30,320.00 

Rio  Hondo  (West  San  Gabriel  River)  via  Dominguez  125  000.00 

Pomona  Flood  Control  Reservoir  and  Work  on  San  Antonio,  Live  Oak,  Thomp- 

.son  and  Williams  Creeks 272,400.00 

Sail  Gabriel  River  Control  on  Cone  Adjacent  to  Mountains  350,000.00 

East  San  Gal)riel  River  from  Cone  via  Artesia  to  Ocean  Outlet  150,000.00 

San  Dimas  Flood  Control  Reservoir,  Covina  and  Baldwin  Park  Protection  Work  278,000.00 

San  Dimas  Wash 37  830.00 

Big  Dalton  and  Glendora  Protection  Work 99,060.00 

Little   Dalton   Work   26,920.00 

Alhambra  Wash  9,835.00 

Eaton  Wash  27,650.00 

San  Jose  Creek  Work  8,000.00 

Sawpit  Wash  4,835.00 

Walnut  Creek  Work  29,920.00 

West  Whittier  Work  20  940.00 

Santa  Clara  River  and  Tributaries 40  000.00 

Santa  Anita  Work 27  350.00 

Little  Rock  and  Big  Rock  Creeks  20  000.00 

Rubio  Wash  10,090.00 

Haines  Canyon _ 33,500.00 

Cheek  Dams  Not  Included  in  Other  Items  Herein  60,000.00 

Incidental  Expenses,  Including  Legal,  Clerical,  Engineering,  Superintendence,  In- 
spection, Printing  and  Advertising  49  700.00 

Total  Estimate  of  Cost  $4,450,000.00 

The  total  amount  of  bonds  necessary  to  be  issued  to  pay  for  the  foregoing  mentioned 
work    is    $4,450,000.00. 

I  believe  that  the  foregoing  plan  hereby  submitted  will  control  and  conserve  the  flood 
and  storm  waters  of  this  District  for  beneficial  use  and  protect  the  Los  Angeles  and  Long 
Beach  har))ors,  waterways,  public  highways,  and  property  in  said  District  from  damage  from 
such    flood    and    storm   waters. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

J.  W.  REAGAN, 

Engineer  of  Los  Angeles  County 
Flood  Control  District. 


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